P R O F I L E
A HIDDEN OPPORTUNITY
If there is an opportunity hidden in every crisis , there is certainly a great opportunity looming just ahead for the dental industry . According to the US Census , the number of American adults aged 65 years or older is expected to reach 98 million , 24 % of the overall population . At present , the mean age of our population is 54-56 years old , a demographic that will increasingly rely on removable prosthetics as an integral part of oral health .
This is where the crisis lies . At the same time our population is aging and the demand for removables is soaring , statistics from The National Association of Dental Laboratories ( NADL ) indicate a shrinking number of labs . More than half of removable dental prosthetics are now outsourced to overseas manufacturers . And , in the existing environment of scarce regulation or enforcement of import laws , troubling quality control issues have surfaced including the detection of contaminants like radioactive isotopes and lead in foreign-made prosthetics products .
As dental labs vanish from the American marketplace , the number of qualified dental technicians is also dangerously inadequate . Right now , only 300 technicians per year graduate from the 11 schools that offer training , so there are far fewer qualified lab technicians entering the workforce than we will need to meet the rapidly swelling demand . Since the lab industry is leaning increasingly toward milled or printed removables , today ’ s technicians will need proficiency in software and digital technology . Unfortunately , the dental lab industry is a hidden industry – many don ’ t even realize it exists , so students are often unaware of this exciting career alternative .
Kurtis Helm , CDT
DIRECT THE FUTURE OF DENTAL CARE
A crisis can only become an opportunity if it leads to an action-oriented response . Training more lab technicians is only one part of the solution – the clinical side of the equation is also crucial . There is a short time for the transition to digital if dentists are to remain competitive and meet the growing demand for removables .
At Helm Dental Laboratory , we have developed a system for dentists to easily adopt digital technology so they can become more proficient in providing high-quality dental prosthetics . A key part of this system is guiding dentists to properly acquire the necessary data for creating digital removables .
2801 Capital St , Wylie , TX 75098
FOR MORE INFORMATION ( 972 ) 442-9772 www . helmdentallaboratory . com
With digital dentures , a 3D scanner captures the vertical dimension and occlusal plane during the first appointment , eliminating the need for conventional impressions . The dentures are then designed using specialized software and printed using 3D printing technology . The denture is crafted in a resin that when cured does not deviate from the initial scan and thus yields a more precise fit than conventional dentures . This technology enables greater individualization , fewer appointments and adjustments , more precise fit , and easier replacement .
Helm Dental Laboratory is dedicated to providing solutions that position dentists to meet the needs of patients in the present and the future . Our solutions acknowledge the important role of digital technology in meeting the demand for efficient , high-quality removables .
A timely response to the supply-demand imbalance in digital removables will give dentists the power to direct the future of dental care , provide an aging patient population with the care they need , and transform this crisis into an opportunity . Contact us today if you ’ d like to find out more about how our system can help position your practice and your patients for a healthy future .
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