Digital dentistry tech integrated with Epic EHR
Dr Raj Dubal, consultant in restorative dentistry at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) (Credit: UCLH)
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) has integrated intra-oral scanners into its Epic electronic health record (EHR) system to improve dentistry care.
ULCH’s digital dentistry programme has replaced the use of traditional dental impressions with advanced intra-oral scanners to capture precise digital images of patients’ teeth and gums.
The scanners, which went live on 22 April 2025, are expected to reduce appointment times and appointment-to-treatment times so patients receive care quicker.
Deborah Bomfim, clinical director for dental services at UCLH, said: “Unlike traditional dental impressions, which use gooey or putty-like materials, this technology provides a more comfortable, accurate, and quicker way to obtain impressions of the inside of patients’ mouths.
“We are excited to be transforming our services to be even more patient centred and technologically advanced.
“This technology facilitates further patient involvement in their care and can be used as a tool for patient education and discussion of treatment options amongst other advantages.”
The integration is a UK-first and includes the ability to place requests directly in Epic for procedures performed using intra-oral scanners.
It also allows staff to store images captured by the device in the cloud, linked to the patient’s order, so these are instantly available to the labs for analysis.
The scanner captures a digital image of the teeth and gums, which is securely and instantly uploaded to the Cloud so the lab can see it right away.
Patients can also see a 3D model of the teeth on the computer screen so the clinician can discuss the treatment with the patient, improving communication and understanding.
As staff get used to the new way of working, the time taken for full arch impressions is expected to reduce from 18-27 minutes to five to eight minutes, saving approximately 22 minutes per patient for a single crown impression.
Gill Gaskin, medical director, digital healthcare at UCLH, said: “The large-scale and full integration of this technology with the Epic electronic health record system is unique.
“This is a great example of how our digital healthcare team supports clinical and operational colleagues to improve efficiency and patient care – and it fits perfectly with the NHS ambition to move from analogue to digital.
“Clinicians can easily access and compare digital images over time, enhancing the completeness of medical records and patient safety.”
The Digital Dentistry programme was funded by the UCLH Charity with help from the trust’s dental, digital healthcare EHR, and technology teams.
Meanwhile, residents in mid and south Essex now have easier access to urgent dental care owing to an appointment system that enables NHS 111 to book out-of-hours appointments for patients, so they do not need to call multiple dentists in search of an available appointment.
The technology pilot launched at NHS Mid and South Essex ICS in May 2024, and in April 2025 nearly 10,000 urgent dental appointments had been booked through NHS 111.
