We sat down with our Principal Dentist, Jarlath McAteer, to talk about the technology behind the scenes at the practice. He explains why, for all the digital advances, the human side of dentistry still comes first.
A digital treatment journey
Since taking over the practice in January 2025, Principal Dentists Jarlath and Jamie have ensured that the latest technology is incorporated into every stage of the patient journey. “It’s not just the treatment, it’s the assessment and diagnosis too,” Jarlath explains. “We use intra-oral cameras, digital X-rays, CBCT 3D imaging, digital scanning, and AI technology for reporting on radiographs. That’s really the assessment side of things.”
Built directly into the treatment chairs are Aceton c20 cameras, used alongside market-leading Medded i900 digital scanners. “That basically means we can take a really close-up image of the tooth. So from a communication point of view, if someone says, ‘I’ve got a crack in my tooth,’ we can take a picture and show the patient exactly what’s happening” Jarlath explains.
Whether your teeth are being scanned ahead of getting crowns, composite bonding, or dental implants, all the digital imagery is uploaded to the cloud, goes to CAD-CAM software, and is designed digitally before it’s either 3D printed or milled. This gives an exceptional level of detail and accuracy in the design process, which can then be hand-finished by our in-house technicians. Jarlath says “Sometimes if we’re doing composites by hand, we’ll still get a CAD-CAM design first, and that provides a template to aid our hand-moulding.”
Final restorations are typically milled in zirconia or lithium disilicate. “Zirconia is what’s used to make fake diamonds because it’s super strong,” Jarlath notes. Once milled, each piece is finished by hand: “Our technician adds in colour, stains and glazes it, so it’s not just one flat shade.” 3D printing plays its part too, for trial models, and sometimes temporaries. “If a patient is going through a phase where their mouth is changing, and you want to adjust the shape of something easily, 3D printing is really good for that,” he says. “It provides an affordable temporary solution and it’s easier to tweak.”
Enhanced accurancy
Jarlath is clear that the biggest benefit for patients is accuracy. “Things are a lot more accurate now, planning-wise. Even when we fit fixed braces, we design the ideal bracket position digitally and 3D print a guide, so brackets are fitted precisely where they need to be.”
Digital planning also means patients can see results before any treatment begins. “We can show a full smile makeover in someone’s mouth before we start any dental work, without any unrealistic expectations” he says. “We can show people exactly what it’s going to look like, and they can properly consent before we start.”
One of the biggest changes, Jarlath says, has been behind the scenes. “We’ve now gone fully to AI notes. It means that within minutes of a patient walking out, I can send them a summary letter.” The knock-on effect, he explains, is more time for care. “It means our team can focus on looking after the patient better, because they don’t need to worry about jotting things down while I’m talking. They can be more hands-on and be there for the patient a lot more, and everything’s ready for the patient when they leave, like their estimate and consent forms.
Can technology ever replace your dentist?
Asked whether he worries about human dentists being replaced by technology, Jarlath is unequivocal. “AI is really good for information gathering and as a diagnostic aid, but it has limitations. It can have a tendency to overdiagnose. A diagnosis isn’t just an image, it’s the patient’s history, the clinical findings, and the extra tests together. AI can help make sure nothing’s missed, but it can’t replace clinical judgment.”
The same goes for treatment itself. “The mouth isn’t a controlled environment, it’s unpredictable. Every filling is different. Robotics and AI will be able to do certain things, but it’s never going to replace dentists.” he says. For Jarlath, it comes back to trust. “A lot of dentistry is about that patient relationship, building trust and communication. We use technology where it’s best for the patient – to be more accurate, more efficient, and more transparent about what we’re doing. But the relationship, the reassurance, the judgment in the room, that’s still down to us.” We’ll be delving into more of the technology in use at Union Quay Dental in future issues.
If you’d like to see any of this technology in action at your next visit, just ask – we love showing people what’s possible.
To book your next appointment, call our reception team on 0191 2596506, use the contact form or email reception@unionquaydental.co.uk