Orthotown May 2023 - 55

Shortly after our practice reopened
after the COVID-19 shutdown, we
had a complete staff turnover for our
fi ve clinical assistants in just one
month. Th at's a catastrophic event
for any offi ce, and while it was for
ours too, because we were a highly
digital offi ce we could train fi ve new
team members, fresh out of assisting
school, in a matter of a few weeks. We
used one " calibration day " to teach
them how to take records and scan
and fi lled in gaps along the way, but
we knew how important it was to
continue growing the practice. We
built up their knowledge base as time
went on and eventually weathered
the storm.
I have walked the walk and experienced
fi rsthand the benefi ts of digital
orthodontics. Th is is not just theory!
Conclusion
Th e evolving digital landscape in
orthodontics has not been unanimously
received with open arms. Th e
idea of coexistence hasn't materialized,
and some orthodontists believe
they need to choose one side: Either
you're a traditionalist and this new
digital technology is all lies and propaganda,
or you're a digital orthodontist
and everything before now is antiquated
and useless. Obviously, neither
is true, but this dichotomy exists to a
certain extent.
Some orthodontists view digital
treatment options as a detriment to
our profession- " dumbing it down "
and making treatment planning more
accessible to those with less training,
which could commoditize orthodontics
and make it more about profi ts than
delivering care. To take it a step further,
some will say this is a corporate
takeover that will lead to orthodontists
being led like sheep by these digital
orthodontic companies. We have to
remember that orthodontics is still
an art and a science, which means it
will always be diffi cult to develop a
cookbook that will be consistently successful
across the board. Providers will
still have to understand biomechanics
and adapt according to the patient's
individual biological phenotype, so
orthodontists will still hold the power.
I think we should look at these
advances as tools to amplify and
boost our orthodontic knowledge and
skills. Digital technology is not here to
replace the research and knowledge
that has laid the foundation for the
orthodontic profession; instead, we
should use it in conjunction with prior
experience to get the best outcomes
we can. Th is in turn will raise the bar
of excellence, which will help distinguish
the specialty of orthodontics.
Furthermore, those of us denouncing
the digital revolution have to
appreciate the fact that we're enjoying
the benefi ts of orthodontic advances
up until this time-digital radiographs,
digital charts, digital photography,
pretorqued brackets and
nickel titanium wires, to name a few.
I'm sure developing radiographs and
photographs in the darkrooms led to
good quality records, but the time it
took to develop them (not to mention
retakes if something was incorrect!)
would destroy the workfl ow in today's
offi ces. Similarly, bending stainless
steel wires for torque, rotations and
ins/outs could be carried out by skilled
practitioners, but engaging NiTi wires
in a bracket with predetermined ins/
outs, tip and torque is so much more
effi cient. I wasn't around the profession
when those items were being
introduced, but I'm sure there were
detractors.
Having members question new
technology will always happen and,
in fact, is needed! Healthy skepticism
will help minimize groupthink and
hold us accountable as a profession.
Alternatively, criticism out of fear
will only hold the profession back. We
have to ask ourselves, " Is our skepticism
healthy or is it provoked by fear? "
I believe the future of orthodontics
to be bright. Th ere will be orthodontists
or companies who will use this
technology to cripple our specialty,
but I have faith that the overwhelming
majority will use it for the greater
good. OT
Dr. Bryan Lockhart is a board-certified orthodontist with two practices in Charlotte,
North Carolina, where he practices with his wife and fellow orthodontist, Dr. Lauren
Rennick Lockhart. He attended dental school at the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill and earned a certificate in orthodontics from Jacksonville (Florida)
University. A frequent speaker on digital orthodontics, Lockhart also has developed his
own clear aligner brand, Dualine, and holds patents for an orthognathic device and a
practice management software program.
MAY 2023 | 55 | ORTHOTOWN.COM
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Orthotown May 2023

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