Ethan F's Senior Project Blog

Project Title: Smiles of the Future: Digital Technologies Reshaping Dental Care
BASIS Advisor: Mr. Covalciuc
Internship Location: My Scottsdale Dentist
Onsite Mentor: Dr. Steven Poulos



Project Abstract

The rise of digital dentistry and artificial intelligence are the game changers for oral healthcare. While these technologies are becoming increasingly advanced, dental practices must adapt to newer systems without compromising customer satisfaction. The following study will explore how integrating digital technology influences changes in dental practice, especially customer satisfaction based on advanced imaging systems and digital scanners. This is important research because it shows the process of digital transformation. With AI becoming so prevalent in healthcare, understanding its effects on patient experience is crucial in maintaining competition and improving care quality over time. My Scottsdale Dentist is a good site for this research because it embraces the most advanced dental technologies. This setting provides a real-world environment to observe the implementation of AI and digital systems and their effects on patient interactions. This research aims to show practices that adopt advanced technology and overcome barriers to its adoption. Findings from this study will add to the body of knowledge about digital dentistry and provide actionable insights into how dental practices can navigate the AI and digital revolution.

    My Posts:

  • Week 10 – 4/23

    Hi everyone! As the final week approached, I began working on the final details of my presentation. For my final product, I will either be bringing in a milled crown or a denture that was made digitally. I also will be including lots of details about Itero and all the other digital technologies I have... Read More

  • Week 9 – 4/16

    Hello everyone! This week I took a final look into 3Shape. 3Shape, the global leader in digital dentistry, is transforming dental workflows with its groundbreaking application of artificial intelligence. The company's top-selling AI-powered platform, 3Shape Automate, enables dental professionals to obtain automated crown, coping, inlay/onlay, and nightguard designs within 90 seconds—dramatically accelerating turnaround times and reducing manual labor. Not only is AI speeding up routine tasks; it's transforming the entire dental design process. For... Read More

  • Week 8 – 4/9/25

    Hello everyone! Here are my findings for this week! While the contribution of AI in root canal accuracy optimization is revolutionary, the applications of AI in dentistry are fast growing into other equally important areas. Current practices currently utilize AI for orthodontic treatment planning, periodontal disease diagnosis, and customized treatment workflows, transforming clinical outcomes and patient experiences. For instance, AI-driven systems like Align Technology's Invisalign® use machine learning to predict tooth movement patterns, reducing aligner adjustment time by up to 30%. Similarly, Gum Disease AI programs read radiographs to detect... Read More

  • Week 7 – 4/2/25

    Hello everyone! This week I reseached how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing endodontics, and their revolutionary prospects for root canal treatment. Among the most thrilling ones is working length measurement using AI—the precise distance from the canal entrance to the apex of the root. Traditionally, measurement of this length has relied on human practices prone to variation and error. AI models already use advanced image processing techniques, such as Gaussian filtering, segmentation, and curvature analysis, to carry out this function with unbelievable accuracy. Studies have shown AI... Read More

  • Week 6 – 3/26/25

    Hi everyone! Today I dug deeper into 3Shape. 3Shape has premiered its latest innovation, the TRIOS 6 intraoral scanner, at IDS 2025. This game-changing tool transforms the role of intraoral scanners from mere digital impression tools to full-fledged diagnostic platforms. The TRIOS 6 comes with hyperspectral technology, combining white light, fluorescence, and near-infrared light to capture in-depth oral health data in a single scan. It is utilized in combination with the latest TRIOS Dx Plus software, which employs AI to provide objective, consistent diagnostic evaluations for a variety of oral conditions including caries detection,... Read More

  • Week 5 – 3/21/25

    Hi everyone! I continued my research at my site. I was recently able to witness the entire process of designing and placing a dental crown with cutting-edge technology. It started with an iTero Element® intraoral scan, which captured a very precise 3D image of the patient's teeth in minutes—no gloopy molds required. The scan data was then imported into fastdesign.io™, where the crown was designed.". The AI-powered technology examined the patient's tooth and recommended a highly precise crown design from Glidewell's extensive library of... Read More

  • Week 4 – 3/07/25

    Hi everyone! This week I investigated the 3Shape scan machine. The 3Shape TRIOS 3 intraoral scanner has revolutionized digital dentistry with its speed, accuracy, and versatility. The powder-free scanner captures high-definition 3D images of patients' oral structures in just 45 seconds for a full arch scan, providing high-quality digital impressions for various dental treatments. The TRIOS 3 is also compact, lightweight, and features a removable, autoclavable... Read More

  • Week 3 – 2/28

    Hello everyone! During the span of this week, I continued shadowing my on-site advisor. I really learned a lot more through watching more uses of the CBCT Scan machine. I learned that CBCT has revolutionized dental imaging by accurate 3D representation of maxillofacial and oral structures. These machines offer improved visualization compared to conventional 2D X-rays, enabling dentists to diagnose complicated issues, treatment planning, and performing procedures more precisely. CBCT scans are of invaluable utility in various applications like implant planning,... Read More

  • Week 2 – 02/20/2025

    Hello everyone! This week consisted of my shadowing of my on-site advisor Dr. Poulos. One of the first cases I got was an emergency case. The patient complained of a simple toothache, which later turned into six visits and tooth extractions that same day. I saw a new increase in digital dentistry in that case... Read More

  • Getting Set Up – 2/12/25

    Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a good week. In this week's blog, I am sharing more details about my project and my progress thus far. Over the past few days, I have been in contact with my on-site advisor finalizing some details about my schedule. So far, everything is going very smoothly.... Read More

  • Introduction to My Project

    My name is Ethan Florento and I am a senior at BASIS Scottsdale. Outside of the classroom, some of my hobbies include playing basketball, pickleball, and hiking, and spending time with my family. Alongside these hobbies, I am very passionate about learning more about dentistry and the rise of AI and digital technology in the... Read More