Dental Asia September/October 2021

Under the Spotlight
rapidly over the years. For instance, novel
techniques along with easier access to
materials and equipment has increased the
number of general practitioners performing
orthodontic treatment.
As a specialist, Dr Park said that she
is aware of this practice and many
orthodontists are also concerned about
the competition for patients, possible
malpractice, and lowering of cost.
She acknowledges that it has become a
norm and there is no way to avoid it, but
noted that orthodontists should be the
ones to lead the trend by being flexible to
changes.
In fact, Dr Park embraces the phenomenon
with optimism: “This creates a much bigger
pie in orthodontic market by making the
treatment more approachable, and it will
eventually accelerate the development
in orthodontics in various ways. A little
bit of competition brings new ideas and
inventions.”
Dr Park is looking forward to technology
showing the post treatment image of not only
dentition, but also the face of her patients.
“I integrated a face scanner with CBCT
and IOS. They are not adequate yet for
consultation and planning of treatment, but I
look forward to the day when the technology
will allow us to do so,” she shared.
On top of this, she also mentioned that there
will probably be many different directions in
orthodontic field. As an example, she raised
the ‘prosumer’ philosophy of the late Mr Alvin
Toffler, an American author, businessman,
and futurologist, can be applied in the future.
“A combination of producer and consumer,
thus the term ‘prosumer’, I believe that
doctors can be a consumer of digital
equipment or software and at the same time,
a producer who creates a new digital concept
with it,” she said.
FUTURE IS NOW
Dr Park shared that she read an interesting
article saying that the technological
advancements in the past 20 years exceeded
that of in the past 100 years. She agreed
to this completely, adding that digital
technology is no longer a new thing and we
are now living in the digital era.
“The pandemic has fast-forwarded the
digital transition in almost every aspect of
life. People are getting hired after a Zoom
interview without meeting face-to-face.
Online shopping has allowed us to purchase
almost anything with a click. A usual business
trip has been replaced with a Zoom call,” she
said.
For this reason, the patients are also wellinformed
and accepting of digital treatment.
Dr Park shared that her consultations with
her patients and their parents are done via
Facetime to minimise the number of visitors in
her practice.
“I understand that abrupt change is never
easy. But I strongly believe that digital
technology will help us break many barriers
and limitations not only in orthodontics but
also in other field of dentistry,” she said.
Sending a gentle reminder to her fellow
practitioners that they have a responsibility
to educate and lead the next generation to
digital dentistry, Dr Park concluded: “As my
favourite saying goes: The human mind is
like parachute and can only function when
it is open. I look forward to meeting and
making more colleagues in digital world and
share and discuss our ideas. Stay healthy
everyone!” DA
In the long term, she foresees that
the correction of malocclusions will
be addressed by combining multiple
treatments rather than a single procedure.
She said: “Hybrid treatment for patients
will increase steadily as the alignment
of teeth plays a role in better implant
placement, as well as in aesthetic and
prosthetic restorations especially with the
rise of elderly patients. This is in addition
to targeted treatments on anteriors, single
arch or specific tooth.”
DENTAL ASIA SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 25