Interview with Dr. Meni Chatzinikolaou
Dr. Meni N. Chatzinikolaou is a prosthodontist based in Athens, Greece. She earned her DDS and postgraduate degree in Prosthodontics from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where she now serves as a scientific collaborator. A board member of the Greek Prosthodontic Society and founder of the Digital Proshodontics Club, she is widely published and internationally recognized for her work in digital prosthodontics, intraoral scanning, and ceramic restorations. Dr. Chatzinikolaou is a passionate advocate for digital innovation in dentistry and a frequent speaker at global dental conferences.
The DEXIS team had the privilege of conducting an exclusive interview with her.
1. How has the integration of digital workflows transformed your approach to prosthodontic treatments?
Integrating the digital workflow in my practice has shifted the entire rehabilitation procedure to a higher level of time consistency, accuracy of fit and transition from what we originally plan to deliver to the patient to what we actually do.
2. What were the main challenges you faced when shifting from analog to digital, and how did you navigate them?
Entering the digital era, basically when I first purchased my intraoral scanner on 2018, the challenges that I had to face were on impressing areas that were challenging even for a perfectly executed analogue procedure. Sublingual margins, cross arch implant cases, edentulous lower jaw. All these are ancient history. The software updates and the implementation of AI are truly revolutionary. Dentists shifting nowadays from the analogue to the digital workflow have much less challenges to face.
3. What factors led you to choose intraoral scanning, and how has it changed your day-to-day clinical workflow?
At first it seemed as an extreme project, but as I started watching all the attention driven to the lectures worldwide when IOS was mentioned, I knew it was a one way ride. My clinical workflow elevated at once. Patients felt so excited, bringing in office such innovations. Recalling the last 8 years, the feedback is truly appreciative, the more the clinic grows the more the referrals multiply.
4. Can you share a case where intraoral scanning significantly improved treatment outcome or patient experience?
In all patients the feeling of helplessness or short of breath when u enter a tray full of impressing material is an experience they definitely want to avoid. Especially when an intense gag reflex occurs, the impressing procedure is quite challenging. There was a case years ago, when the patient had to be sedated in order to have his dental treatments. Ever since his pleasing experience with the IOS, fear levels dropped, and we now manage to treat him in a regular base without the need of sedation.
5. Why did you choose the DEXIS IS 3800W scanner, and how does it compare with others you've tested or used?
My first IOS was a CS 3600 and it was one of the first scanners in Greece. The reviews comparing it with other IOS systems were promising and the collaboration with the dealer in Greece was such that it made great sense to have it. When the time came for the clinic to get a second scanner, we were so satisfied that we went for the IS 3800W. As a founder of the Digital Prosthodontics Club in Greece, I have had the chance to test many of the IOS in the market and the DEXIS IS 3800W is one of the leading scanners.
6. What aspects of the DEXIS IS ScanFlow software support your prosthetic design and planning process?
One of the ideal features of the IS ScanFlow is the ability to have your bite registrations accurately transferred from the pre-op to the prepared or implanted site in addition to obtaining all your favorable features to the next level. Immerging profile transfer, immediate loading of implants are now so predictable and ongoing.
7. How has wireless scanning influenced patient comfort and clinical efficiency in your practice?
Wireless scanning has made life easier, providing the space we need to move freely around the patient, skipping the risk of getting trapped around the cable and dropping the scanner on the ground.
8. In your experience, how do DEXIS scanners support better communication with labs and faster turnaround times?
The time saving parameter is my personal favorite. It takes a few minutes to have the impression send to the lab, and less than 10 minutes to have the design for a crown or an onlay that we usually fabricate chairside. The ability to communicate with the lab through screenshots or photographs and the fact that one can get a real time smile design within an hour is priceless.
9. What advice would you give to colleagues hesitant about adopting digital tools in prosthodontics?
Even if your analogue impressions are working great in your practice, entering the digital path is a whole new world of planning and delivering outstanding restorations as predictably, accurately and fast as possible. The innovation of the digital procedure excites your patients and the learning curve is not as steep as you might believe.
10. Looking ahead, what digital technologies or trends are you most excited about in prosthodontics?
The implementation of facial scanning and jaw movement acquisition in the design of my CAD/CAM restorations, along with the 3D Printing chairside final prosthesis. AI is definitely a game changer for the Digital Prosthodontics.