Dentech Digest Issue #8: Dentistry.One Wins, Virtual Implants, and Next-Gen Scanning.
Your TL;DR on dental AI, innovation, and industry moves.
Happy Friday Fam!
If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at the AI hype, you’re not alone. But Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google, says we’re actually underestimating what’s coming.
In a recent TED Talk, he argued that AI is about to go beyond chatbots and content tools. We’re talking about AI agents that can handle complex strategic tasks, run full business operations, and solve real-world problems in healthcare, education, and science. In his words: “This is the most significant development in 500 to 1,000 years of human society.”
What Schmidt describes isn’t a future fantasy. It’s already starting to take root in dental practices. Here's how we're seeing AI agents emerge in dentistry:
✅ AI scribes that create clinical notes in seconds
✅ Diagnostic software that flags caries, bone loss, and abnormalities
✅ AI that manages insurance verification and pre-auth in real-time
✅ Auto-recall and reactivation of overdue patients
These are the early agents that are not replacing your staff, but are offloading the repetitive, mentally draining work your team struggles to keep up with.
Schmidt estimates AI will drive a 30% productivity increase across industries. In dentistry, that means:
☑️ Reduced admin overhead
☑️ Happier team members with less burnout
☑️ Faster, more accurate diagnoses
☑️ More time for direct patient care
In a world where fewer people are entering the workforce, AI isn’t about replacing people, it’s about augmenting them. Schmidt says it best: AI helps solve the "not enough humans" problem.
This tech isn’t reserved for DSOs and startups. If you’re a solo doc or small group practice, this is your window of opportunity:
Identify bottlenecks: What tasks drain your team’s energy every day?
Test one AI tool: Pick a low-risk area, like charting or scheduling, and pilot one tool.
Prep your team: AI doesn’t work unless your people know how to use it. Invest in training early.
AI in dentistry isn’t just about shiny tools; it’s about protecting your energy, supporting your team, and staying ahead in a changing world. According to Schmidt, we’re standing on the edge of something massive, and the practices that start now will be the ones who adapt and thrive.
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🗞️ This week in dental tech:
Virtual Implant Practice
Fake Dental Images Enhancing Diagnostics
Next-Gen Intraoral Scanning
Industry Insights
🤝 Two Dental Tech Powerhouses Just Teamed Up to Make Implant Surgery Way Smarter
SICAT and W&H Group just announced a partnership that could make dental implant surgery feel like playing a video game.
W&H's CBCT scanners create crystal-clear 3D intraoral images and SICAT's software then lets dentists virtually place implants with millimeter precision before they ever touch a drill.
Why this matters: Dental implants used to be part art, part science, with a lot of "let's see what happens when we get in there." Now it's becoming pure precision engineering. Less guesswork means fewer complications, faster healing, and better results.🧠 Scientists Just Taught AI to Create Perfect Fake Dental Images and It's Boosting Real Diagnosis
AI in dentistry has long faced a data problem because rare conditions don’t show up often enough to train diagnostic models. Now, researchers have solved this using StyleGAN2, an AI that can generate hyper-realistic dental scans on demand with full control over what’s shown and where.
When tested, these fake images were 99.6% similar to real ones. And when added to training datasets, diagnostic AI systems got a major upgrade:
+8% accuracy for one sinus issue
+14% for another detecting another type
Why this matters: Better diagnostic AI means earlier detection of problems, more accurate diagnoses, and ultimately better patient outcomes. Instead of waiting to collect enough rare disease images from patients over many years, researchers can now generate exactly what they need to train world-class diagnostic systems.🦷 3Shape Releases TRIOS 6: A New Standard in Intraoral Scanning
3Shape has introduced the TRIOS 6, a next-generation wireless intraoral scanner equipped with hyperspectral imaging technology. Unlike traditional scanners that rely solely on visual imaging, the TRIOS 6 captures data across white light, fluorescent light, and near-infrared light, enhancing its ability to detect subtle or hidden oral health issues.
Paired with the new TRIOS Dx Plus AI, the system can automatically identify five common clinical concerns:
Surface cavities
Interproximal cavities
Plaque buildup
Tooth wear
Gum recession
With the launch of the DentalHealth app, patients can now view 3D models of their scans marked with AI-detected problem areas. This makes it easier for patients to understand diagnoses and monitor changes over time.
Why this matters: Giving patients a clear view of their oral health makes them active participants in their care. When people understand what’s going on, they’re more likely to move forward with treatment.Industry Insights
💰 Dentulu just launched Dentulu Pay, the "Expedia for dental loans" that lets patients apply once and instantly compare financing offers from multiple lenders, without hurting their credit score.
📱 Asia’s telehealth giant, MNDR, just launched AI dental scans via smartphone in Singapore, letting millions get cavity and gum health checks from home.
🏫 UB Dental School is revolutionizing training with VR headsets and AI tools, letting students explore 3D teeth and master digital workflows.
Photo: Cass McAllister
💭 AskDentistry.ai is a newly launched AI-powered platform that provides dental professionals with instant, evidence-based answers backed by peer-reviewed sources.
🏆 Dentistry.One just became the first dental telehealth platform to earn the Digital Medicine Society’s Seal of Approval, marking a major milestone for virtual oral healthcare with validated standards in clinical quality, privacy, and equity.
🖥️ Dandy just launched Live Design Review, a real-time video collaboration tool that lets dentists and lab technicians co-review 3D dental cases, streamlining communication, reducing errors, and accelerating case approvals.
Image Source: Dandy
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Questions? Want to be featured in an upcoming issue? Email me at thenatashasarwar@gmail.com.
Until Next Time,
👋 Natasha