6 Tech Toys for Dentists

The economy might be softening, but not the appetite among dentists for technology. Bank of America, a large provider of dental equipment loans, says demand for such products actually grew in the first half of 2009. How much all those whiz-bang devices cost dentists—and you:

Cost: $35,000 = 304 X-ray sessions
Why it’s popular: These machines, which spin around the patient’s head, expose consumers to less radiation because they capture images of all the teeth in a single take. They also offer a clearer view of the overall jaw structure.
Downside: These X-rays can cost more than traditional ones, and insurance doesn’t always cover the expense.

Cost: $3,000 = 19 fillings
Why it’s popular: Large, sharp images allow better visibility inside the mouth.
Downside: Howard Strassler, a professor at the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore, says these so-called intraoral cameras can promote unnecessary treatment. “Patients see a harmless crack in their teeth blown up on the big screen,” Strassler says, “and they want the dentist to operate.”

Cost: $110,000 = 263 facial scans
Why it’s popular: Dentists can get a highly detailed picture of the face and jaw, allowing them, for example, to locate the nerves in the jaw before operating.
Downside: Scans can run $250 to $600 each. Early models cost much more and saddled some dentists with heavy debt, creating an incentive to generate more charges per patient.

Cost: $25,000 = 121 tooth whitenings
Why it’s popular: Dentists don’t have to use messy plaster to take a custom mold of the patient’s teeth before ordering devices like retainers. Digital impressions are also considered more accurate than traditional ones.
Downside: Stand-alone impression machines are still very new and not widely tested by independent researchers.

Cost: $100,000 = 299 ceramic crowns
Why it’s popular: It can whittle a block of ceramic into a crown within 10 minutes. Dentists save on lab costs, and consumers are spared the need for multiple visits.
Downside: Machine-made crowns aren’t always as strong as handmade ones, says Steven David, a professor at the New York University College of Dentistry. This can hasten the need for expensive replacements.