This blog post is brought to you by Esthetic Professionals, one of GroupUps’ trusted partners that helps doctors successfully integrate digital technology to their practices.
Digital dentistry is changing how modern care is delivered. With CAD/CAM systems, in-office milling, 3D printing, and digital avatar tools (CBCT, IOS, jaw motion, and facial scanning), practices can offer more precise, efficient, and engaging treatment experiences.
These technologies aren’t just about efficiency. They give you more control over design, improve patient trust, and raise the overall standard of care. The real challenge is knowing how to integrate these technologies and choosing partners who can help you make the most of your investment.
CAD/CAM technology streamlines restorative processes—from intra-oral scanning to design and in-office milling. 3D printing expands these capabilities, producing models, guides, appliances, provisionals, aligners, and dentures. Together, these systems cut turnaround times, improve precision, and reduce lab reliance.
Imagine delivering same-day crowns or showing patients a realistic preview of their new smile before treatment even starts. These tools make your work more tangible for patients and boost confidence in your recommendations.
With in-office milling and 3D printing, you can refine details in real time, such as adjusting margins, anatomy, and occlusion. With digital avatars, you can fine-tune aesthetics to match each patient’s face and personality, creating results that look natural and individualized while also meeting their clinical needs.
While costly to start, digital workflows often provide long-term savings by reducing lab fees, streamlining processes, and improving chair usage. In-house production can increase control and profitability over time.
Offering same-day dentistry and digital smile design helps you stand out. Patients appreciate the convenience and tend to share their experience, turning advanced technology into an organic marketing tool for your practice.
Adopting CAD/CAM, milling, 3D printing, and digital avatars requires significant investment of time and money. Beyond initial equipment and implementation costs, practices must budget for ongoing materials, maintenance, and software updates. Planning ahead helps keep costs predictable.
Each new piece of equipment adds protocols and changes workflows. Initial and ongoing training plus staff engagement helps drive integration and is critical to adopting these technologies.
Just like any piece of equipment, digital technology requires regular maintenance which needs to be integrated into your practice’s standard operating procedures. Be sure to calibrate, replace parts, and update milling units, printers, and scanners as recommended by the manufacturers to avoid workflow disruptions.
Not every case is ideal for in-office production. Highly esthetic or complex restorations may still be best handled by a trusted lab partner, while understanding each material is essential for good results.
A digital practice generates significant data across systems. Integrating scanners, design software, mills, printers, and avatar systems requires IT support and careful planning.
The success of any digital transition depends on the partner’s active involvement in your implementation. A trusted company or consultant does more than provide equipment. They collaborate with you to integrate CAD/CAM, milling, 3D printing, and digital avatar systems smoothly, offering ongoing practical guidance gained from real-world clinical experience.
A trusted partner will:
The right partnership ensures your technology enhances your day-to-day practice instead of sitting idle.
Before going fully digital, assess your case volume, team readiness, and growth goals. Many practices begin with intraoral scanning and CAD/CAM, then add 3D printing and digital avatars as they grow. With guidance from the right partner, you can implement digital dentistry in phases, minimizing disruption and maximizing results.
GroupUps uses AI to identify suitable options and connect you with trusted partners to guide you through successful implementation of digital dentistry solutions. Submit your shopping list to get started.