Digital dentistry: the key technological innovations to be seen in 2025
Probably no dentist is immune to the increasing presence of digital technologies for dentistry. Digitalisation and AI are accelerating across all areas of healthcare and the dental surgery represents an environment where these innovations are already impacting treatment plans and surgery workflow. From CAD/CAM technologies to diagnostic software tools and cutting-edge imaging systems, digital innovations are infiltrating all aspects of the dental profession.
How are digital technologies helping dental professionals?
Above all, the onset of digital technologies in the dental sector is accelerating surgery workflow. A banal example comes from digital X-ray sensors, able to generate diagnostic-quality images instantly, store them and display them on unit-integrated monitors, complete with tools for measurement and image-management software.
Digitalisation has also helped accuracy. Each diagnosis can benefit from the digital technologies used in 2D and 3D imaging. Highly sophisticated tools, filters, software and digital processing systems are able to enhance data used to diagnose oral pathologies and help prevention in many cases. Visualising what the naked eye does not see has been a major contribution to improved dental health and digital technologies have greatly accentuated this factor in recent years.
Sustainability, speed and services. Stern Weber provides several benefits
Starting from one simple digital sensor, Stern Weber adds to the sustainability of the dental surgery. Placed in the unit’s patient chair, the sensor detects the presence of a patient and when the equipment is no longer occupied, places all unit functions in standby mode and switches off the operating lamp, thereby reducing energy consumption. Moreover, Stern Weber provides the optional digital virtual assistant. Di.V.A., a digital solution offering internet connectivity for remote services and providing extensive and actual dental unit utilisation data.
Digital innovation to help communication within the studio
Another aspect of digital innovation that Stern Weber incorporates in its equipment helps patient-dentist communication and streamlines workflow. Voice controls are used to activate functions avoiding manual contact with switches or keypads, helping hygiene standards. The interactive system of LED lights assists staff during treatment sessions. For example, with the apex locator on, the LED ring changes colour, passing from green to yellow to red according to the distance from the apex. LED indicators also show instrument spray status and progress of automatic hygiene systems and according to colour, provide precise indications that relieve the assistant of time-consuming activities with little added value.
The smartest operating lamp on the market
This is undoubtedly the most interesting innovation that exploits digital technologies available across the Stern Weber treatment centre range. The Venus LED MCT View lamp is a full-optional version of the existing Multi Colour Temperature lamp featuring warm, cool and neutral colour temperature settings, plus Composite Mode. Now fitted with a 4K camera which shoots videos and captures images rich in detail, the lamp includes software enabling settings of camera parameters and controls, such as recording start, image capture, zoom and Smart Focus.
Thanks to special lens technology, the camera's focus can be adjusted digitally in an instant by touching the sensitive area on the lamp itself. The resulting images are perfectly sharp and clear and are not affected by any interference from the spray or other moving elements in the operating area.
The main camera functions can also be controlled via the touch screen control panel or the foot control, or even via voice control if the dental unit provides this option.
In addition to being an excellent tool that facilitates communication between dentist and patient, recording and/or multimedia streaming allows for dissemination and training in the academic sphere and sharing via the web. It also provides fundamental evidence of the correct execution of protocols, clearly documents the work of the dental team and enriches patient records with images and videos.
Technological innovation is a backbone of the Stern Weber brand and digital technologies are a key focus of several advancements driven by Stern Weber to help dentists make the most of their professional skills.