Quadrant dentistry vs. interdisciplinary planning: which digital workflow fits your practice best?

Digital dentistry opened up new possibilities for how we diagnose, plan and deliver treatment. Two main workflows often come up in these conversations: quadrant (same-day) dentistry and interdisciplinary planning.

In a recent podcast episode in which I was joined by Dr Ahmad Al-Hassiny from the Institute of Digital Dentistry, we shared our experiences with both approaches. While Dr Al-Hassiny spoke from the perspective of a clinician who has built a daily workflow around same-day crowns and quadrant dentistry, I shared the approach we advocate for here at Digital Smile Design: interdisciplinary planning and big-picture thinking.

What became clear is that these two approaches are not rivals. Each has its strengths, its challenges and its place in a modern dental practice. Most importantly, the two can complement each other — and when combined with strong communication and teamwork, they help dentists deliver more predictable results and a better patient experience.

In this article I will compare quadrant (same-day) dentistry and interdisciplinary planning and look at examples of them in practice.

Quadrant vs. interdisciplinary dentistry: Quick-view comparison

Before I go deeper into each approach, here’s a quick side-by-side comparison of the two approaches:

What is quadrant (same-day) dentistry in the digital era?

Brief description

This approach organizes dental treatment by quadrants of the mouth (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left).

Key characteristics

• Focuses on efficiency by treating multiple teeth in the same quadrant during one appointment.

• Typically limited to restorative procedures (fillings, crowns, bridges, etc.).

• It is a technical and localized approach which often does not consider overall facial esthetics or complex functional relationships.

Pros of quadrant dentistry

• Time-efficient for both dentist and patient.

• Useful for routine dental treatments.

Limitations of quadrant dentistry

• It lacks a global vision of the patient's oral health.

• It may ignore esthetic harmony and functional balance across the full mouth and face.

What is interdisciplinary planning in digital dentistry?

Brief description

This is a modern, patient-centered approach that plans dental treatment through collaboration between multiple specialties, supported by digital tools. It is based on the patient’s facial esthetics and emotional expectations.

Interdisciplinary planning focuses on designing the ideal plan, which means the best possible treatment for the patient. After that, from the ideal design we generate a Motivational Mock up that is used to motivate the patient and start the technical conversation in which we present the treatment plan.

Key characteristics

• Involves multiple specialties: orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, implantology, etc.

• Uses digital tools: photos, videos, 3D scans, and smile design software to plan a personalized smile.

• Emphasizes esthetic, biology, functional and emotional integration.

• Patients actively participate in the design of their future smile through visual mock-ups and digital simulations.

Pros of interdisciplinary planning

• Comprehensive diagnosis: links occlusion, esthetics, biology, function and even airway issues to the patient’s main complaint.
  
  

• Patient education: Using images and videos of the meticulous digital treatment planning will help the patient understand each step in the process and the reasoning behind it
  
  

• Shared responsibility: Standardized records allow cases to be reviewed remotely and shared with labs or specialists, reducing pressure on the dentist alone. Involving multiple specialists allows for better treatment plans as many experts analyze the case until they agree on the best possible option for the patient.
  
  

• Customizable: The full plan can be presented and the patient decides how much to accept based on needs and budget. The patient can even do a part of the project knowing that each step makes sense and follows the big picture plan to ensure that the final outcome is under control.
  
  In the quadrant dentistry approach, the focus is on solving the problem and is not usually part of a big project. One of the risks is that the result may be unexpected as it does not follow a complete project.

• Average ticket price: Having bigger cases but fewer patients helps us to build better relationships, reduce stress and create differentiation. The goal? Fewer patients, more comprehensive cases, higher average ticket.

Limitations of interdisciplinary planning

• Knowledge barrier: requires an interdisciplinary team that can follow the project in each one of their disciplines.
  
  

• Communication barrier: without clear explanations or if the doctor does not follow the methodology correctly, patients may feel overwhelmed or see the plan as a ‘sales pitch’.
  
  

• Team dependency: success depends on coordination with staff, labs and specialists; without standardized workflows, complexity can backfire.
  
  

• Slower cycle: compared to quadrant dentistry, interdisciplinary cases take more time to plan, present and accept.
  
  

• Mindset required: it means shifting from ‘fixing what the patient asks for’ to ‘educating them on everything that can be improved.’

Case example: comparing both approaches

🧑‍⚕️ Case example: 35-year-old patient with multiple issues

The patient presents with:

• Worn-down anterior teeth

• Missing molars in the upper right quadrant

• Crooked lower front teeth

• Complaints about the appearance of their smile

• Occasional TMJ discomfort

🔹 Approach 1: Quadrant Dentistry

What happens?

• The dentist focuses on one quadrant at a time.

• The upper right quadrant is restored first: crowns or bridges are placed where teeth are missing.

• The front worn teeth might get composite restorations without changing their alignment or considering smile esthetics.

• Lower crowding and TMJ discomfort are not addressed, as they're outside the quadrant being treated.

Result:

• Quick, functional restoration of specific areas.

• No full smile redesign or alignment correction.

• The smile may still look aged or imbalanced.

• TMJ issues persist because the bite and jaw function weren't evaluated globally.

🔸 Approach 2: Interdisciplinary with DSD

What happens?

• Full Digital Assessment: Photos, videos, 3D scans, and a digital smile design are created.

• Smile design and Treatment planning. All specialists involved in the decision making.

• The patient sees a mock-up of their ideal smile, based on their facial features and desires.

• Patient Co-Creation: Patient is involved in choosing tooth shapes, lengths and smile style.

• Adjustments are made before any irreversible work begins.

• Team Collaboration: Orthodontist aligns the lower front teeth.

• Periodontist ensures the gums are healthy and symmetrical.

• Prosthodontist or restorative dentist designs anterior restorations that match the patient’s face.

• Implantologist replaces the missing molars following the restorative project.

• Occlusion specialist adjusts bite to prevent TMJ pain.

Result:

• A fully harmonized, functional, biological and esthetic smile.

• TMJ issues are addressed through bite balancing.

• Patient feels emotionally connected to the process.

• Long-term health and satisfaction are prioritized.

Quadrant dentistry vs. interdisciplinary planning: which should you choose?

Choose quadrant dentistry if you want a fast, accessible workflow that delivers speed, autonomy and predictable ROI — especially with same-day crowns

Choose interdisciplinary planning if you want to offer comprehensive, long-term treatment plans that link esthetics, function and health

In reality, most practices need both: quadrant dentistry for efficiency and profitability, interdisciplinary planning for complex cases and long-term patient value.

Which approach is more profitable?

Quadrant dentistry often delivers immediate financial benefits. With same-day crowns, dentists cut lab bills dramatically and attract patients who value speed. It’s one of the most scalable ways to integrate digital tools because every dentist can offer it.

Interdisciplinary planning, on the other hand, leads to larger case values. Full-mouth rehabilitations, smile designs or combined ortho-restorative cases naturally generate higher revenue. But the cycle is slower: more education, more coordination and more time before acceptance.

Both can be profitable — but in different ways.

What do patients prefer: same-day dentistry or interdisciplinary care?

For emergencies or single-tooth problems, quadrant dentistry wins: no temporaries, less sensitivity and a crown finished in one visit.

For long-term transformation, interdisciplinary planning wins: patients who see their mockup transferred to the mouth are often “amazed and shocked” and ready to commit.

I believe that the deciding factor is how well we communicate the value of each approach.

Digital dentistry thrives on collaboration

Quadrant workflows deliver speed, autonomy and efficiency.

Interdisciplinary workflows reveal the bigger picture and help patients connect dentistry to their overall health.

For me, the real skill lies in knowing when to use one, when to use the other and how to communicate both with clarity.

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