In everyday dental workflows, familiarity can be a valuable tool. For example, some patients are increasingly turning to cosmetic treatments, meaning the average day of a dentist is slowly but surely changing in tandem. Clinicians who have greater experience providing such care, or knowledge of the clinical implications of certain treatments, will feel more comfortable in this new age of dentistry.
In a time of great change, where digital solutions are developing at rapid pace and clinicians are managing the still recent introduction of AI (which brings its own challenges and ethical considerations),[i] maintaining conventional workflows may bring confidence and comfort to some dental teams.
It’s important to understand why conventional materials for diagnostic and treatment purposes may be preferred compared to digital solutions, and recognise which groups of dentists could benefit most from their use.
Technostress
Digital systems offer benefits in a variety of aspects of modern care, that is undeniable. However, the speed and scale of change that it has brought to dentistry and other healthcare fields can be a problem. Technical problems, a lack of training and the pressure to keep up with rapid developments can all create stress for the dental professional.[ii]
Take the speed at which AI is advancing as an example. There is a concept called task completed time horizons, which is the speed programmers take to complete a task compared to that of an AI model that achieves success. The time horizons of modern AI models are currently doubling at an average of every seven months, meaning their capabilities are growing but, equally, people need to be able to keep up with implementing new abilities.[iii]
Alongside the need to keep up with the potential for new applications, clinicians need to judge when they are appropriate to use in order to improve a conventional workflow. With the need to juggle knowledge of regulatory changes, the ability to perform tasks without repetition due to technical error, and more, the technostress that can affect some clinicians is understandable.
There is also the need to think further along the clinical workflow, and understand which solutions professionals such as dental technicians are confident working with. The literature notes that their acceptance and engagement with AI technologies is pertinent for developing this aspect of care, and its overall success relies on the perceptions and acceptance of the whole team.[iv]
If clinicians or technicians cannot utilise new advancements safely and appropriately, keeping to convention is a responsible choice.
Speak to your team
Knowing your team is important when selecting materials and equipment used throughout a dental practice. The literature is contradictory; some studies have found that experienced dental students do not find digital tools easier than conventional impression techniques, whilst others have found high acceptance rates for the newer approaches.[v]
This is all a measure of preference, which will differ based on a professional’s past experiences, time spent using a solution, the targeted outcome and more. Whilst long-form studies have their place in helping practices plan for the future, it is equally important to speak to the individuals that work with patients every day and get their view. For many that have used conventional approaches for decades at no disadvantage to a modern digital solution, the significant change in workflow may not only be unnecessary, but detrimental to patient outcomes whilst clinicians familiarise themselves.
Consulting the team can also keep the practice in line with current guidance. The General Dental Council’s ‘Standards for the Dental Team’ state that a clinician must only carry out a task or type of treatment if they are trained, competent and confident. If they are not confident in using new equipment, a dental professional must refer the patient to another clinician. Before making sweeping changes that may affect a clinician’s capacity to work in the practice to the best of their ability, seeing if conventional workflows should remain is something to consider.
Choose high-quality solutions
When working with conventional dental materials, especially in workflows such as impression taking, its imperative that clinicians choose materials that not only maximise confidence, but patient outcomes too.
The KemKat impression compound material from Kemdent is a leading example, as an ideal contribution to copper band impressions and adding to an impression tray. The material is a staple of conventional workflows, and maximises results with a high viscosity that helps to record the full depth of the sulcus. Called a “must-have for clinicians who value excellent detail” by Mike Gregory BDS, Clinical Lecturer at Bristol University, it can serve a fantastic role in conventional workflows in practices.
Conventional does not mean out-dated. When practitioners work with confidence and clinically proven solutions, they can deliver brilliant dental care that supports patients for years to come.
For more information about the leading solutions available from Kemdent, please visit www.kemdent.co.uk or call 01793 770 256
[i] Dhingra, K. (2023). Artificial intelligence in dentistry: current state and future directions. The Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 105(8), 380-383.
[ii] Bernburg, M., Gebhardt, J. S., Groneberg, D. A., & Mache, S. (2025, January). Impact of Digitalization in Dentistry on Technostress, Mental Health, and Job Satisfaction: A Quantitative Study. In Healthcare (Vol. 13, No. 1, p. 72). MDPI.
[iii] Lovely, G., (2025). AI could soon tackle projects that take humans weeks. Nature, (Online) Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00831-8 [Accessed March 2025]
[iv] Lin, G. S. S., Ng, Y. S., Ghani, N. R. N. A., & Chua, K. H. (2023). Revolutionising dental technologies: a qualitative study on dental technicians’ perceptions of Artificial intelligence integration. BMC Oral Health, 23(1), 690.
[v] Cicciù, M., Fiorillo, L., D’Amico, C., Gambino, D., Amantia, E. M., Laino, L., … & Cervino, G. (2020). 3D digital impression systems compared with traditional techniques in dentistry: a recent data systematic review. Materials, 13(8), 1982.
