Digital assistant and orthodontic patient. Practical courses in orthodontic treatment

The digitization of work processes in the dental office is a fact. This is because modern tools and work methods allow doctors to concentrate on diagnostic and planning tasks. Those for which we are best prepared. The rest of the work can be successfully delegated to your assistants (an assistant and/or another doctor) and technicians. Thanks to digital work, we are moving away from the current „reactive” orthodontics – which involves the doctor reacting to the existing situation at every stage of working with the patient. We are guided by the image and digital facilities. We divide the whole thing into easily managed stages, additionally supported by 3D prints at the armchair. We take full advantage of quality control, medical supervision, easy indirect gluing, and navigated procedures that allow for the delegation of clinical tasks. We can work independently with different appliances (sagittal appliances, fixed appliances, aligners) in the same way, based on visualizations of the treatment plan.
Many doctors are interested in implementing such solutions. They are economical. They also provide the opportunity to offer patients new services that were previously unavailable in the office. Where to start? How to delegate tasks and have full control of treatment processes? Which tasks should be delegated and to whom? How to prepare yourself and your staff
for digital work? What is the role of a doctor in a digital environment? What solutions work in practice? You will learn this in a practical course divided into 5 modules.
Training modules and their sequence can be individually selected depending on the needs, knowledge and skills of assistants/technicians.
A doctor and an assistant/technician can take part in the training, but we do not provide for the possibility of training an assistant without a doctor, as digital solutions cannot be introduced.
in practice without the doctor’s involvement and understanding of the processes.

Module 1 – Introduction to orthodontics, nomenclature, biomechanics, communicating with the doctor while working at the chair.

This module is an introduction to orthodontics, designed to provide the assistant with the necessary orthodontic knowledge to work independently with a patient under medical supervision. Basic orthodontic concepts, nomenclature and tools used with patients will be discussed. The orthodontic biomechanics of various braces will also be demonstrated, which will allow the assistant to work and communicate with the doctor in a professional and team manner and to understand the processes taking place in orthodontics. This knowledge will contribute to the independence of the orthodontic assistant (with full supervision at the same time, not involving additional time of the doctor’s work), which translates into her effectiveness and confidence in action. In addition, in multi-station work, an experienced assistant will be able to detect irregularities in the operation of individual devices and report to the doctor when he or she enters the office for an appointment. A method of working with one or several doctors, on one and several chairs, will be presented. What is the job of a doctor, and what is the job of an assistant and a technician?

BONUS: Live observation of the practical work of the digital assistant on 3D treatment planning.

Module 2 – Digital Assistant and Technician and Virtual Patient – Presentation of the division and scope of work of an assistant, technician and doctor in the 3D world. Learning how to use 3D software (practical course). Cabinet workflow.

The aim is to teach ready-made (stages) proven and effective actions in a practical course that can be implemented in one’s own practice in an easy and accessible way. Everyone wants to get promoted. Promotion in work competences is beneficial for the assistant staff as well as the doctor. In this case, assistants, technicians and young doctors are given a chance to be promoted.  The treating physician receives his or her time in return. It can develop the practice, easily maintain the quality of treatment and control its course.  The concept of a digital assistant and a digital orthodontic technician is presented. The details of the responsibilities of the staff are discussed in detail.
In this part of the training, a new form of patient – the virtual patient – will be introduced. Effective proposals for work rules, office organization, how to enroll patients in office and virtual chairs, workstation preparation, data collection and a proven system for verifying treatment progress, preparing treatment plans by the doctor and controlling the work of the team will be explained.
The digital assistant will learn how to proceed from the first contact with the patient, through collecting diagnostic data, receiving this data from the doctor and processing it, supporting the doctor in diagnostics and treatment planning (yes, it is possible in digital work!), cooperation with the laboratory. The presented system of work applies to both fixed and overlay braces (and their combination in hybrid orthodontic treatment, together with skeletal anchorage or other braces) and occlusal splints.

Full intensive training in the use of the DDP-Ortho orthodontic software available free of charge  : from program opening, through diagnostics, to set-ups and positioning of orthodontic brackets. Using the facilities of artificial intelligence in the preparation of digital diagnostic models, ready-made analyses, and the possibility of quick set-ups. Exercises for assistants, technicians and doctors. It is recommended that the doctor and his assistants or technicians be present at any practical training. For doctors who do not have their own technician, an experienced external technician who knows the principles of digital work will be available during the training. You can then work with him. Outsource the production of cameras or printouts to indirect methods.

You will learn about the flow control and integrity of digital information in the practice

Module 3 – Practical course on phantoms – Indirect donning and control (operation) of fixed and overlay braces.

Presentation of a proven method of attaching attachments and accessories for aligners.
Presentation of how to handle different methods of indirect gluing, with special emphasis on the „Jig” and „window” method. Showing the shortcomings and possible mistakes during the application of braces and the procedure verifying the correct insertion of braces – exercises for assistants, hygienists, doctors.
Control of the  replacement of fixed braces, replacement of arches in self-ligating ligature  braces, possible emergency visits – how to cope, control of overlay treatment, remote and on-site inspection, management of the process of ordering the aligner and its time, breaking the continuity of the overlay treatment by the patient – what to do, removal of the braces and retention.
Presentation of the various technical solutions used in cameras. Increasing the skills of the assistant/hygienist in terms of understanding the tasks assigned by the doctor.

Module 4 – Help and consultation of the first 2 cases with the use of DDP-Ortho orthodontic software: from cephalometric analysis to set-up – practical exercises at the computer.

Please prepare DDP-Ortho diagnostic files for your patients (DDP-Ortho model and uploaded photos of faces, dental arches, X-ray (cephalo and panorama).

During this training, real-time diagnostic work will be performed (it will be possible to check the workload of a „digital” doctor), 3D treatment planning along with VTO – visualization of treatment goals in 3D (set-up for aligners, bracket positions, sagittal braces – depending on the complexity of the defect, shape selection and arch sequences).

Module 5 – DIGITAL TECHNICIAN AND ASSISTANT – operation of technical programs and 3D printers – own production.

This module is designed to teach you how to use 3D orthodontic software at an advanced/expert level, enabling local production in the practice. First of all, a reminder of the practical use of the DDP-Ortho program. In the next part, we will present the advanced use  of the DTS (Digital Technician Studio) program to  make: a digital manipulative model (possible to 'set up’), jig transfers or „windows” for intermediate bonding of fixed braces, determining the sequence of tooth movements in aligners. The student will also learn  how to use the DDS-Pro program  to prepare occlusal splints, simulate maxillary and mandibular surgeries, and a virtual articulator. This opens up the possibilities of interdisciplinary practice – orthodontist-implantologist-surgeon-prosthodontist.

The use of 3D printers for the production of transfers to fixed braces, aligners, occlusal splints will be presented. Sample printouts of completed works.

Comparison of Meshmixer (free) vs DDP-Ortho (free) + DTS (paid) software to make your own aligners. When will a free program win and when will it fail?

BONUS: hands-on learning how to make your own in-house aligners along with a demonstration of DTS-generated sequential models, thermoforming, and overlay processing.

Price
PLN 3,000 – Doctor + Assistant for each day of training.
PLN 2,500 – Doctor without an assistant for each day of training.
Additional assistant, hygienist, technician (if there is space) PLN 500.

The number of people during practical training (in the clinic) is limited to 3 doctors and 3 assistants for the comfort of participants.