The innovative software supports the diagnosis of various oral health conditions - such as tooth wear, interproximal caries, periodontal health and occlusion concerns – by leveraging multiple assessment and visualisation tools following an intraoral scan. These tools integrate the results of several assessments to provide a comprehensive, patient-centric overview of their oral health status and treatment needs.  The scan images facilitate active chairside co-discovery and understanding, which can help to build greater trust between clinician and patient.

Early adopters Dr. Jan Einfeldt and Dr. Mumta Jilka put the new Align Oral Health Suite upgrade to the test in their own practices, reporting that the digital advances make it much easier to explain their recommendations.  Dr. Jan Einfeldt explained: “Using the Align Oral Health Suite lets me show the patient everything so much more clearly - it turns the consultation into a conversation, transforming treatment planning into co-diagnosis.”

Turn a consultation into a co-diagnosis conversation  

                                                                                                                                                                Key new updates to the Align Oral Health Suite include an upgraded gallery which presents multi-modal views of the patient information including HD intraoral and NIRI (Near Infra-Red Imaging) images, photorealistic 3D models, ‘wide-smile’ photos, in-face visualisation and annotated records, all in one place.

The multi factorial scan images shown on the big screen during the consultation helps encourage co-diagnosis and drive two-way conversations about treatment options. This immediate chairside conversation can help patients really see and understand their oral health status, discuss the potential causes and implications of their treatment options. 

As Dr. Jilka explains: “The Align Oral Health Suite turns conversations into visual experiences. Instead of telling patients they’ve got problems with their oral health we show them their scan, their occlusion, their compromised periodontal status – they see it and they immediately get it.”

The guidance can be reiterated in a customised post consultation report complete with annotated images and captions, shared via a QR code, which the patient can scan while in chair. The comprehensive assessment can be reviewed post consultation (and discussed with loved ones), allowing them to recall and process, what they have discovered and the treatment options open to them after discussing with the dentist. Equally, the consolidated patient data creates more efficient and streamlined multi-modal practice record keeping.

A lightbulb moment which encourages behavioural shift

Annual car MOTs, regular health checks and body scans are considered imperative or good practice. Similarly, enlightened practices are scanning every patient and using the Align Oral Health Suite to be far more proactive to benchmark, monitor and track the oral health status of their patients.   Showing comparative scans side by side taken over a period of consultations makes the education even more powerful. Patients can see changes happening in their mouths over time, understand the potential impact of wear, movement, or cracks, and suddenly the need for action feels real.

Patients can then really engage with their oral health.  “When dental professionals describe problems like progressing occlusal wear, or cracks in amalgam fillings, they may struggle to picture the issues but with the Align Oral Health Suite, everything becomes apparent right before their eyes. They can see a 3D scan of their own teeth and see the issue for themselves in high definition on the big screen. The conversation opens up and instead of trying to persuade, patients are discovering the problems themselves. That shift makes the discussion more transparent and collaborative.” adds Dr. Einfeldt.

Both doctors agree that treatment acceptance has increased. Dr. Jilka concludes “From a commercial perspective, our treatment coordinators can then use the Align Oral Health Suite when following up with patients. They can show exactly why their doctor recommended certain steps, for example, doing fillings before cosmetic work.”

Their comments are corroborated by data showing that 78% of doctors agree they increased treatment acceptance using the Align Oral Health Suite[ii], while 92% agreed it helped increase practice revenue[iii].   These outcomes are driven by the platform’s ability to transform complex clinical information into clear, interactive visual experiences. When patients can see and grasp their oral health status and treatment options firsthand, trust is built, engagement rises, and commitment to recommended care becomes far more likely.

For more information about the Align Oral Health Suite please visit https://itero.com/itero-benefits/diagnostics