Each and every year technology advances and the dental space is no exception. In this post, we’ll review some of the technological advancements that are being developed or have been introduced to the market for dental practices recently.

AI

AI has been the buzzword heard ’round the world and the dental industry is no exception. AI has a broad use cases from analyzing images to summarizing conversations and even acting as a receptionist. As this technology continues to grow, we expect to see even more ways to implement AI within the dental practice.

Services like BetterDiagnostics and Pearl Second Opinion are already helping detect pathologies that may otherwise be missed or overlooked with the naked eye. They also give providers a way to present findings in a way that is easily understandable for patients.

AI extended even further though. As more practices report struggles with staff recruitment, tools that offer AI assistants and receptionists can help bridge the gap by taking over some tasks, so existing staff can focus on patient care.

3D Printing

In late 2025, researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas announced that they have developed new 3D-printing technology that may just be a game changer for dentists and patients alike. This new technology allows dentists to 3D print zirconia restorations, like crowns, veneers, and bridges.

Previously 3D printing has been limited to ceramic restorations as zirconia requires a time-intensive debinding process. This new tech reduces the debinding time that used to take weeks to less than 30 minutes.

For orthodontists, three US universities are testing thermoplastics for clear aligners. This new material allows for clear aligners to be 3D printed and then placed in hot water to soften for easier placement back in the mouth. As the temperature adjusts, it will harden back to its original shape in order to move teeth. As this research progresses, this may allow orthodontists to more conveniently make aligners in office using 3D printers and thermoplastics to allow for more versatility than some traditional clear aligners.

This is just a small sampling of the dental technology we’ve seen introduced in the past year. As AI adoption grows and new advancements continue to be introduced, new dental tech is sure to follow.

If you’re interested in the latest that Open Dental Software has to offer for your practice management needs, visit opendental.com.