The landscape of digital dentistry continues to evolve rapidly, with adoption rates reaching critical mass across various specialties. In a revealing conversation with Dr. Ahmad Al-Hassiny, Medit America's Senior Director of Education and Marketing, Matt Mock, shared valuable insights about the current state and future of digital dentistry.
Watch our Podcast episode, available now on YouTube:
Current State of Digital Adoption
Digital dentistry has reached a significant milestone in adoption rates, particularly in specialized practices. General dentists show adoption rates between 40-50%, while specialists like orthodontists and prosthodontists lead the pack with rates reaching 70-80%. Perhaps most telling is that by 2025, most scanner sales are expected to come from existing users upgrading their equipment rather than first-time buyers.
The Changing Competitive Landscape
The market has witnessed significant transformation, particularly in the value scanner segment. "The landscape for a value price system has just completely shifted," Matt Mock notes. "From the time when the i700 launched, you really didn't have a lot of competition in that price bracket. Now I would almost say that's the most competitive space for scanners."
This shift has led to interesting developments in pricing and technology, with new entrants offering capable solutions at increasingly competitive price points. Matt Mock acknowledges that basic scanning capability has become somewhat commoditized, with differentiation now focusing on ease of use and post-scan workflows.
Education: A Tale of Two Audiences
The educational needs in digital dentistry have clearly divided into two distinct groups:
Late Adopters: These practitioners require fundamental education about digital integration and overcoming technology hesitation.
Experienced Users: This group seeks advanced workflow integration and optimization strategies.
Matt Mock emphasizes that the focus is shifting toward helping practices implement complete digital workflows, from scanning to in-house manufacturing, in ways that don't disrupt existing operations.
The Future of Digital Dentistry
Looking ahead, several key trends emerge:
AI-assisted tools will streamline workflows
Manufacturing solutions will become more accessible
Scanner technology will continue to evolve in size and capability
Material development will drive adoption of new technologies
Matt Mock reveals that Medit is investing heavily in expanding its ecosystem with new applications and workflows, all while maintaining their philosophy of accessibility and user-friendly design.
Practical Implementation
For practices considering digital integration, Matt Mock advises focusing on specific goals rather than trying to implement everything at once. Whether choosing milling or 3D printing depends largely on the practice's specific needs and objectives rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach.
The conversation makes clear that digital dentistry has moved beyond the early adoption phase and is now entering a period of refinement and optimization. As technologies become more accessible and workflows more streamlined, the focus shifts to implementation strategies that maximize return on investment while improving patient care.
Take the Next Step in Your Digital Journey
Ready to enhance your digital dentistry knowledge? Join the iDD community to stay ahead of the latest developments in digital dentistry. Our comprehensive online courses cover everything from scanner basics to advanced digital workflows.
Whether you're just starting your digital journey or looking to optimize your existing digital workflow, we have the resources you need:
View our course catalog to explore our range of CPD-verified digital dentistry courses
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates and insights
Follow us on Instagram for daily digital dentistry content
Don't miss our upcoming podcasts and articles covering the latest in digital dentistry. To hear more insights like these, make sure to subscribe to the Digital Dentistry Decoded Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.