LabMag: Who will be copying whom in the future?

Artificial intelligence, automation, digital processes – we’ve covered these topics many times before. And yes: here we go again. Not because AI is a buzzword doing the rounds in the industry, but because there’s a bigger question behind it: what is currently happening to the profession of ‘dental technology’? As a materials and technology partner, we’re seeing that many laboratories are currently thinking less about equipment and more about processes and their future role.  

Dental technology is a profession in which experience and craftsmanship have traditionally determined what works. Yet it is precisely in this area that technology has now become astonishingly proficient. The uncomfortable question is this: what happens when systems no longer merely imitate teeth, but take over parts of the thought processes and decision-making involved in dental technology? Who will be copying whom in the future? Annett Kieschnick approaches the subject from a relatively personal angle. Her Deep Dive is intended as an invitation to join in the discussion. Perhaps this will polarise opinion. But perhaps that is exactly what is needed before we turn our attention to other industries in the next LabMag, together with a technology strategist.

Quick Takes | What’s driving the industry?

• E-invoicing: From 2025, dental laboratories must be able to receive electronic invoices. The obligation to issue them will come into force from 2027 or 2028, depending on the size of the business. Checklist & implementation guide
• AI remains a matter of responsibility: even when using AI-supported systems, professional responsibility continues to lie with the user. This is emphasised by the German Dental Association. Read more
• 3D printing of splints: How suitable for everyday use and durable are printed bite splints really? Master Dental Technician Jannick Bade has tested the ‘ optiprint ’ from durotec in a day-to-day laboratory setting. Read the article

Deep Dive | Background and Perspectives

“Touched 1,000 times, and nothing happened 1,000 times.” That’s a bit how the AI debate in dental technology feels. We’ve been talking about digitalisation, automation and AI for years. Yet much of it still seems surprisingly far off.

“Hold on a moment, we’ve been digital for ages.” With scanners, 3D printing and milling machines, that sounds plausible. The industry has undergone a technological evolution that other trades can only dream of. But if we’re honest: that was mainly down to infrastructure. Tools were simply replaced by more modern ones. Whether AI will actually become the next stage in the development of dental technology remains to be seen. Many labs are currently grappling with far more immediate challenges. Nevertheless, there are good reasons to keep a close eye on this development – because, for the first time, it’s not just about new tools, but about systems that can analyse, evaluate and make suggestions. Things get interesting when technology starts to think for itself.

AI is not simply a new tool

And now I’m going to get a bit personal. For me, AI isn’t just a ‘trendy topic’ that I’m keeping an eye on. It sits at my desk with me. Every day. Not ‘just to have a go’. Nor is it there to write my texts for me. It structures thoughts, prioritises information and offers perspectives that I might only have come up with hours later on my own. This creates space for new ideas, different projects and new ways of working. One of my biggest ‘aha’ moments: working with Claude Co-Work. For the first time, AI didn’t feel like a tool, but like someone actively working alongside me. Whether and how such experiences can be applied to dental technology is an open question, but one that should be asked.

AI doesn’t simply automate work. It pushes the boundaries of what a single person can achieve – and in doing so, opens up new possibilities.

The difference between digital and artificial intelligence

“AI might work for standard cases in a dental laboratory, but not for real dental technology.” A valid point. But what happens when technologies take over tasks that currently still require experience and training?

Many laboratories use AI-supported systems, for example in conjunction with CAD software. However, there is a difference between digitised processes validated by manufacturers such as dentona and artificial intelligence systems.

Whilst standard tasks are increasingly becoming automatable, the value of work is shifting towards complexity. The only question is: what counts as complex? Complexity may no longer refer exclusively to manual execution, but rather to the management of digital processes, the expert interpretation of results and the assumption of responsibility within increasingly intelligent workflows.

Whether this actually creates more value or merely benefits other market players remains to be seen. This is precisely why it is worth keeping an eye on developments and reflecting on one’s own role – ideally before others start to define that role.

A rather awkward question

“Does AI still need dental technicians?” One might ask. But the more uncomfortable question is: what kind of dental technology will even be necessary in the future?

For the first time, AI is making inroads into areas that were previously the preserve of human expertise – from composing a piece of music to design and software development, right through to dental technology. What is interesting here is not what AI replaces, but what it enables. For example, this is leading to the creation of works by people who have never learnt to play an instrument, never studied design or never learnt to programme. Creativity may always have been there; what is new is the access to it. Even though dental technology, due to its medical and regulatory requirements, is not directly comparable to creative professions, a similar pattern emerges: technology is broadening access to skills that previously required specialist knowledge.

The danger lies in people ceasing to question AI decisions. Anyone who routinely accepts AI judgements loses the ability to make their own judgements.

Role models are changing in many sectors. This development is also being discussed within the dental industry. Yet in the day-to-day running of many laboratories, there is hardly any scope for it. Understandably so. Amidst staff shortages, time pressures and day-to-day operations, AI can quickly seem like ‘just another issue’. Yet the role of dental technology is changing faster than many have time to think about it.

So the real question is not a technical one …

… but strategically. Anyone who only starts looking into AI once the new software is here is missing the point. The change affects the very nature of the profession. “What is the point of dental technology knowledge anymore?” It’s an uncomfortable question. That is precisely why it needs to be asked. 

A preview of LabMag 13: “AI is not a software update, but rather a change of operating system.” 

If the challenge is in fact less technical and more strategic in nature, opportunities for dialogue and guidance become increasingly important. Companies such as dentona are changing their role in this process. They are not ‘merely’ product manufacturers or distributors, but support laboratories with issues that go beyond materials and equipment. Platforms such as LabMag or d.connect provide a space for this: for guidance, exchange and the shared exploration of how dental technology intends to operate in the future.  

In the upcoming issue of LabMag, we will be exploring, together with a technology strategist who monitors developments across various disciplines, the question of what inspiration other sectors might offer the dental technology industry.