Can seeing the Dentist stop a Heart attack?

It could actually save your life. No, really.

As someone immersed in the dental industry, I’ve seen firsthand how transformative advances in technology can be.

At our company, XYZ Dental, we believe in supporting the industry with the tools they need to provide better, faster, and more accessible care.

Some months ago, I was up late flicking through studies and articles on the internet relating to preventative oral health care and how it relates to overall health.

I mean what else should I be doing on a Sunday night waiting up for the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club game to start. Led by the legendary Ange Postecoglou of course.

I came across quite a few compelling anecdotes and even some data sets but there was one that really stood out from the University of Illinois where they cited studies that show that:

Studies have shown that for every dollar spent on preventive dental care - $8 to $50 can be saved in restorative and emergency treatments. It's potentially more in additional types of medical treatment.

According to many studies, sealants like fissures seals can reduce the risk of caries in children by up to 80%. This saves a lot of pain and costs to the patient.

This incredible return on investment underscores the importance of prevention to reduce the overall burden on the public health system.

Adopting tools like intraoral scanners and embracing CAD-CAM workflows surely improves the delivery of these preventative measures. More on that later.

Early. Often and Proactive.

As a father, I know how crucial early dental care is for building healthy habits and preventing long-term issues. I want my children—and every child in Australia—to grow up understanding that oral health is foundational to overall well-being.

It’s not just about teaching our kids how to floss and brush or what to avoid eating. It’s about engaging them at the clinical level, showing them—on screen, in color—whether they’re on track with their oral health.

This personal passion fuels my professional mission:

• Advocating for equity in oral health, from under-served regional communities to affluent city suburbs.
• Encouraging more Australians to see the dentist regularly, shifting from reactive treatment to proactive care.
• Supporting dentists, oral health therapists, and nurses in delivering better care through innovative technology.

The mouth is part of the body. You know that, right?

And how about the rest of the body?

Poor oral health is linked to several serious health conditions:

• Cardiovascular Diseases: Inflammation from gum disease can lead to hardened arteries, increasing heart attack risks.
• Respiratory Infections: Mouth bacteria can infect the lungs, causing conditions like pneumonia, especially in aged care settings.
• Diabetic Complications: Gum disease worsens diabetes control and vice versa, as poor oral health can raise blood sugar levels.
• Pregnancy Complications: Gum disease increases risks of premature birth and low birth weight.
• Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Mouth bacteria have been found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, suggesting a possible connection.

So, we can establish that what's happening in the mouth has an effect on the rest of the body. What now?

Well, that patient has to actually see a Clinician to be monitored, educated and treated. Those clinicians need to find a way to keep track and chart their patients progress.

Best way to do this? Imaging, digitising records rather than relying on handwritten charts and good old-fashioned memory.

Using timelapse technology to chart progress for our patients, holding them accountable and encouraging them to continue using preventative measures like basic oral hygiene which then pays off in the future.

Start. Get the Scanner. Any Scanner (Well, Almost Any)

I advocate in every capacity I have for the adoption of technology that makes preventative care accessible to all Australians—and I believe that technology starts with an intraoral scanner.

Guess what? It doesn’t have to be the scanner XYZ Dental sells—the iTero.

Sure, it’s the one I believe offers the most advanced capabilities, best overall value, and support structure, but ultimately, I just want clinicians to take a step in the right direction and adopt this technology.

The key is embracing a tool that can revolutionize patient care.

Whether it’s a child in a regional community accessing care through a mobile clinic equipped with CAD-CAM tools, an elderly grandma who needs her dentures to eat, or a busy professional in Sydney benefiting from same-day treatment, the goal is the same: better outcomes for everyone.

Baseline: Why Get a Scanner?

By integrating intraoral scanners and CAD-CAM workflows, practices can:

• See More Patients: Faster workflows mean clinicians can focus on providing more care.
• Improve Accessibility: Scalable solutions make advanced care feasible for practices of all sizes.
• Enhance Patient Trust: Visual tools engage patients in their oral health journey, fostering understanding and commitment.

Why I Think iTero is the Best Choice (and Why Most Dentists Do Too)

Intraoral scanners, like the iTero with NIRI caries detection technology, represent the cutting edge of preventative care. These tools empower dental professionals to detect issues early, monitor progression, and engage patients in their treatment journeys.

Features like time-lapse imaging provide a visual narrative of a patient’s oral health, encouraging proactive care and demonstrating the long-term benefits of early intervention. These capabilities are among the many reasons the iTero scanner is one of the best-selling intraoral scanners globally.

Ok, Got the Scanner. What’s Next?

The scalability of CAD-CAM workflows means practices can bring advanced capabilities in-house, reducing costs and minimizing the number of appointments patients need.

Here’s how:

• 3D Printing: Quickly and affordably create surgical guides, orthodontic aligners, and custom trays.
• Milling Machines: Enable same-day crowns and more, saving time for both patients and providers.
• Comprehensive Workflows: Streamline complex treatments, from restorations to dentures, ensuring efficiency without sacrificing quality.

Shameless plug for CLAUSS?

Our CLAUSS? Chairside CAD-CAM solutions cover scalable, open yet integrated systems that, best of all, come with unmatched support. Our team doesn’t just sell CAD-CAM technology—we use it every day at our own AXIOS Medical and Dental Milling and Production Centre in Melbourne.

Click here to check out our CLAUSS? Clinical CAD-CAM brochure.

My Hope

I dream of a future where oral health disparities in Australia are eliminated. A future where under-served and affluent communities alike have equal access to quality dental care.

Technology, like intraoral scanners and CAD-CAM workflows, is the bridge to this future. It’s our responsibility as industry leaders to champion this transformation—not just because it’s good for business, but because it’s the right thing to do.

For me, this mission is more than professional—it’s personal. As a parent and an advocate, I’m committed to making oral health a priority for every Australian.

Together, with the right tools and a shared commitment to prevention, we can transform oral health outcomes for all.