Are you ready for the future of dentistry?

With digital connectivity, cloud-based solutions and automated documentation, digitisation is transforming day-to-day operations in dental practice. But what role is W&H playing in this? What can ioDent^®, the IoT solution developed specially for the dental industry, really do? And what added value does the tool offer? We met Christian Lechner, Product Director at W&H, at IDS 2025 and talked to him about the subject of digital dentistry.

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For those who don’t know ioDent^® yet, can you briefly describe what the ioDent^® platform actually is and which main features it offers?

ioDent^® is W&H’s cloud platform, which allows us to offer our customers various digital services, similar to iCloud from Apple or the cloud services from Microsoft and Google. ioDent^® does this by collecting data from W&H devices, evaluating them, and making the insights gained available for various applications.

Can you give any specific examples of how ioDent^® supports dentists in everyday practice?

ioDent^® enables work processes in dental practices to be digitised. One example of this is the full automation of the documentation for our sterilizers. The process data for our new Thed thermal washer disinfector is also stored directly in the cloud, without any manual input. This allows dental practices to effortlessly meet regulatory requirements, which often involve a lot of manual work without a cloud solution. As well as time savings, safety also plays a crucial role here, as manual processes are more prone to errors.

Another example relating to traceability is the EliTrace feature. Users can access relevant information on the sterilization cycle at any time by scanning a label on an instrument’s sterile goods packaging. This works directly via the W&H Steri App. EliTrace thus ensures traceability between patient, instrument and reprocessing process, providing additional safety thanks to comprehensive documentation.

With Seethrough, W&H has developed a new X-ray range – what role does ioDent^® play in this and what benefits does this provide for users?

One feature that I find particularly useful is the share feature in our Seethrough online viewer. This allows dentists to share high-resolution X-ray images of patients with colleagues with a minimum of hassle. X-ray images are often shared by taking a photograph and sending it via messaging services like WhatsApp. Not only does this lead to a loss in quality, but it also poses a data protection risk. With our solution, image quality remains high and is shared safely and professionally.

How is ioDent^® being developed? What new functions can users expect from the regular updates?

ioDent^® is updated every three weeks, so our customers regularly benefit from new features. In the last update, for example, the new imaging package was activated. In addition to the online sharing module I have already mentioned, this also includes an online viewer and an X-ray control book, which automatically documents the dose of X-ray radiation each patient has been exposed to.

The term ‘digital twin’ is often used in connection with digitisation. What exactly does this refer to?

The digital twin is the digital representation of all W&H products in ioDent^®. It supplies real-time data directly to the system, thus providing the basis for many of our digital services. This data helps us to continually optimise our products and develop tailored digital services. The digital twin also enables remote maintenance via ioDent^®.

While we are on the subject, can you explain how the remote maintenance of devices via ioDent^® works?

Basically, the responsible service technician is notified proactively whenever a device issues an error message. Depending on the type of error, the dental practice can either fix the problem itself or a technician visit can be required. “Why do I need ioDent^® then?” you might ask. The device produces its own error codes in any case. While that is true, without ioDent^® the error code needs to be communicated over the phone. Not only does this process take more time, but it’s also more prone to errors. If, for example, digits are accidentally transposed when the error code is phoned in, this could, in the worst-case scenario, result in the technician arriving with the wrong spare parts. This would mean unnecessary costs and delays to repairs. Using ioDent^®, on the other hand, enables you to optimise your work processes. Technicians can read error codes via remote maintenance and bring the right spare part with them first time. This reduces downtimes, helps prevent unnecessary stress and enables service measures to be planned in good time. Our sterilizers are a good example of this: if the technician notices that a service is due soon, he can inform the dental practice in good time, arrange an appointment and organise a replacement device if required. A win-win situation for everyone.

What would you say to someone who doesn’t see any value in ioDent^®? How would you convince them otherwise?

My tip would be to just give it a try! It is free to register and use the basic version of ioDent^®, and a product can be connected in just five easy steps. Whether you’re a digital enthusiast or a sceptic – one thing is clear: today, it’s no longer enough for a modern and successful dental practice to function on a purely analogue basis. A good example here is patient files: in the past, index cards were the standard but these days digital documentation is the norm. It’s exactly the same with ioDent^®. The better networked a dental practice is, the more efficient its processes are. ioDent^® helps to optimise processes, minimise errors and reduce downtimes. Not only does this make everyday practice easier, but it also makes it more economical and future-proof.

Thank you for your time and insights!