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Professional Courtesy: Remember the Past, Embrace the Future by Dr. Thomas Giacobbi

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Categories: Practice Management, HR and Accounting;
Professional Courtesy: Remember the Past, Embrace the Future


by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, editorial director

I had two very different brushes with technology in the past couple of weeks, and they left me wondering where these experiences will converge with your views of our profession and the future that lies ahead.

This month I’m celebrating 29 years in dentistry, but I love technology so I don’t always feel as much like an “old-timer” as my level of tenure might suggest.

I just had some new cabinets installed in my home office, and the countertop installer was taking measurements to fabricate the countertop. When I stepped into the room, he was there with an iPad and a laser measuring device mounted on a tripod. I made a comment that this certainly isn’t like the old days when they made a template with some scraps of wood glued together, and I followed that up by asking if he likes this approach better.

He described to me in detail how accurate this process was because the measurements would be near-perfect and the information goes directly into the machine that cuts the quartz slab. My mind went to the milling machines in dental labs that churn out the crowns made from scans I take with my intraoral scanner. Technology is great!

Technology supplements, but can’t supplant
The installer was quick to add that while he likes the technology, it has created a real problem for his company on two fronts:
  • First, because they’re “all-in” on this tech, if there’s a problem with the laser or the software that runs the cutting machine, everything grinds to a halt.
  • Second, most of their current, younger installers are completely frozen if they run into any obstacles in the field. For example, sometimes there’s an additional electric outlet when they arrive with a solid quartz kitchen backsplash. In the old days, this would be a relatively simple cut that could be done by the installer, but the current crop never had to do it the “old way.” If it fits, they can install it, but if there’s a problem, they’re lost.
Is technology robbing us of vital skills and experiences?

If you went to dental school a few decades ago, there’s a good chance you had to wax your crowns and cast your gold without the benefit of lab technicians or milling machines. I remember vividly cursing the fact that we were doing all this work that wouldn’t be part of our daily routines as real dentists in the real world.

However, I can tell you without a doubt that those experiences made me a better clinician when it came time to troubleshoot a crown that needed an adjustment or when I evaluated an impression (analog or digital) for accuracy.

We can’t cling only to the old ways of doing things because there are many benefits to be realized from the technology available today and in the future. However, it’s important not to lose sight of the elements necessary for that technology to be successful.

Of course, once the artificial intelligence software is trained to sweat the details, you’ll just need to hold onto the handpiece! (Yes, I’m kidding.)


A vision of the future
Speaking of the scary and not-so-scary things that will become part of our lives in the future, I had an appointment at the local Apple Store for a demo of the Vision Pro. In a nutshell, this is a virtual reality headset that is a wearable computer— a portal to faraway places and something that will make you feel like you’re in the middle of a science fiction movie set in the year 2100.

During the 30-minute demo, I had the following virtual experiences:
  • Sitting on the edge of a mountain, feeling like I could fall while watching a climber navigate a precarious ledge.
  • Looking at my photo collection, including short video clips that played in 3D.
  • Watching a movie on a giant screen in a theater, able to position myself in the front, middle or back row.
  • Being in a fully immersive meadow scene that surrounded me even when I looked back, up or side to side.
  • Watching a live sporting event from a point of view that was better than the best seats at the game,
  • Using simple hand gestures and my eyes to navigate apps and scroll web pages.
  • Adjusting my view so I could see the person right in front of me and have a conversation.
This was one of the most amazing pieces of technology I’ve seen since my introduction to the internet or the first cellphone with a touchscreen. It’s hard to imagine this first-generation device will be considered the “old way” by my grandchildren.

Do you have a passion for technology or the old way of doing things? Please share your comments below. I also can be reached via the miracle of email: tom@dentaltown.com.
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