Technology has changed the face of dentistry for sure. We can now perform prosthetic rehabilitation in a matter of hours, thanks to the use of diagnostic tools such as CB CT and CAD CAM technologies. Then we have 3D facial scanners, 3D printers, we have microscopic endodontic treatments that are available now, and we have dolphin software which can predict the surgical outcomes for orthognathic cases.
When it comes to orthodontics, I think we are in an era of nanorobotics where there is a use of intraoral scanners. Earlier, if you walked into a dental office, you had to have those very big trays in your mouth which would take impressions and now they have been replaced by these scanners which can scan your oral cavity within 60 seconds and with the high accuracy of about 98%. Then we have the use of software where a lot of artificial intelligence and machine learning are being used, so now we can show a patient the simulation of the treatment outcomes, so they can see how and understand what they can expect out of the treatment.
We have the use of 3d printers. They are used in the fields of orthodontics and prosthodontics. We have the most advanced SLA printers, which are highly productive, and then we have the use of other thermoforming machines which can be used in sports dentistry, which can also be used in orthodontics.
I think there is a complete change in the field of orthodontics where the heavy metal braces that were so inconvenient and were full of metal that would just give some lesions in your oral cavity, they were not so easy, there were food restrictions. They can now be replaced by very convenient biomaterials, which you can call smart materials, which are discrete and they can do the tooth movements the way we want and they can correct your smile. It can help us fight the third biggest dental problem that our country is facing, which is the problem of malocclusion, which can further lead to other problems like migraine, TMD problems, neck problems and changes in the dento-facial structures also. Moreover, clear aligners are a series of predictable orthodontic trays that are worn one after the other, and it has reduced the treatment time compared to conventional metal braces. Now the treatment time has almost been reduced to half.
Rejove clinic: Concept and journey thus far
My journey has been a roller coaster ride, starting from my residency in AIMS, where my interest in orthodontics was evoked. I started the Rejove clinic back in 2017. And we were very successful in a short period of time. And the overwhelming response of my patients always kept me motivated to adopt technology as my way forward.
We started our in-house aligner manufacturing in 2019, where we did a few hundred cases. It was very exciting because it was very easy for the patient. We had very good reviews where patients thought it was very convenient for them, very discreet for them, and it was not hampering their social life.
Around the same time, COVID stuck . And we saw that this adoption was increased in patients. Now the teenagers and both adults were getting interested in aligners. Also, because there was a fear of coming to the dental clinic, nobody wanted to step out during the COVID times. That’s when we started our doorstep services, where we followed all the IDA guidelines and our doctors did the scanning for the patient. And the patient just had to come to the clinic once to get their attachments and any auxiliary treatment that was needed, and the aligners were delivered, and later on, these aligners were monitored digitally by our team of doctors, where they just had to send a few pictures in the selfie mode, and we could track the progress.
I think that motivated me more because I realised that I wanted to go out in the market and be more accessible to the crowd, educate the crowd. We believe in accessibility and affordability. So, these aligners are very affordable in their pricing.
The clear aligner market
The clear aligner market in the year 2021 was valued at $4.7 billion. And it is expected to grow at a rate of CAGR of 29.5% from 2022 to 2030, when it is expected to be a $30 billion industry by the end of 2030.
The APAC region is going to be the leading market for this industry, with India and China being the leaders in it because of the growing population and the ever-increasing problem of malocclusions.
These aligners can be used at any age. The only contraindication is if you have any medical condition or any periodontal condition, which your dentist or we can examine and let you know. Usually, we suggest 12 years and above. So, the best part is that there are no restrictions; no restrictions in terms of food; no restrictions in terms of hampering your social life; and it is very easy to use. These materials are very biocompatible, so there is no health hazard and you will slowly progress towards the smile you want in a shorter duration of time than conventional orthodontic treatment.
Future plans for Rejove
We plan to use our funds in increasing awareness around oral health, awareness around treatment needs and awareness around options available. We are trying to enhance our technology and our production capacity. We are constantly investing in talent acquisition and building a team of orthodontist who can render the best treatment plan, which can have the best treatment outcomes. We want to be accessible and affordable. At the moment we are in Delhi NCR, but we plan to expand pan India.
Source: linkedin.com
