Pediatric dentistry and orthodontics could benefit from a greater use of modern technology, according to Barry Lyon, DDS.
Dr. Lyon is a chief dental officer for the division of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry at Sarasota, Fla.-based DSO Dental Care Alliance. He recently spoke with Becker's about the impact new technology can have on these two specialties.
Editor's note: This Q&A is part of a weekly series featuring Dr. Lyon focused on topics in the dental industry and DSO field. This response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What area of dentistry needs more innovation?
Dr. Barry Lyon: With all the recent technological advancements in dentistry, it is time they are utilized by pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.
Artificial intelligence has come a long way. It is a reliable method of diagnosing dental disease in adults and providing a pathway to an accurate treatment plan. Pediatric dentists can take advantage of AI’s ability to reveal obvious and incipient carious lesions, and it can aid in treatment planning the appropriate pulpal therapies.
Although it is in development, AI’s ability to reveal skeletal problems via a cephalometric analysis will be a boon to orthodontists. It will aid in diagnosis and the development of proper treatment sequences. Currently, 3D imaging has become the standard of care and a valuable tool for orthodontic diagnosis.
Imagine what the benefits of regenerative dentistry and the utilization of inflammatory markers and biomarkers would be to pediatric dentists. Preventive pediatric dental care would leap forward and would make the pedestrian application of topical fluoride and sealants appear primitive in comparison. Gene editing technologies will allow the modification of the genetic code that will reduce the susceptibility to caries.
Unimagined advances in dental technology, embraced by pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, will lead to revolutionary advances in pediatric healthcare.