Clearly connected dentistry: inside the launch of W&H’s Seethrough imaging system
On a wet and blustery February evening in Manchester, the contrast between outside and inside could not have been more striking. While the rain fell steadily beyond the doors of 53two, inside the creative performance space around 100 dental professionals gathered in an atmosphere that felt lively, energetic and unmistakably optimistic.
Guests were welcomed with drinks and canapés, while Eyecon Art added a distinctive visual opportunity to those gathered, setting the tone for an evening that felt as creative as it was clinically focused.
Conversations flowed easily as clinicians, partners and industry colleagues reconnected with familiar faces and met new ones from across the UK dental community. The mood during the event reflected a shared sense of curiosity and anticipation, as attendees came together to see the unveiling of W&H’s new Seethrough digital solution and to explore what speakers described as the company’s new chapter in digital dentistry.
Only later did the wider response become clear. Across social media, attendees described the event as engaging and genuinely enjoyable, highlighting not only the opportunity to see new technology first-hand, but also the strength of the professional conversations and networking.
Many emphasised that the evening felt less like a traditional product launch and more like a collaborative moment for the dental community, with discussions focused as much on the future of workflows and patient care as on the technology itself.
A profession at a turning point
Dentistry is increasingly shaped by digital capability. Imaging, planning, communication and treatment delivery are becoming more closely interconnected, with clinicians expecting technologies that support clarity, confidence and efficiency at every stage of care.
However, as discussions throughout the evening reflected, the reality in many practices remains complex. Digital tools often operate in isolation, requiring clinicians to move between multiple systems just to complete a single workflow. Rather than simplifying processes, technology can sometimes introduce additional steps, creating demands on time, co-ordination and communication.
As Jon Bryant, W&H Managing Director, explained: ‘For decades, W&H has developed instruments that surgeons trust. But we recognised that true progress isn’t about individual products, it’s about the entire workflow. So we challenged ourselves to go further. What we unveiled isn’t simply a new product line, but a fully integrated system, built from the ground up to redefine how clinicians work.’
The Seethrough ecosystem was presented as a connected platform bringing imaging, planning and surgical workflows into one seamless environment. By bridging gaps between stages of care, it serves to reduce digital friction and enable workflows that are clearer, more intuitive and better aligned with real clinical practice.
Drawing on his clinical experience using the system in practice, Dr Aly Virani, Implant Dentist & Clinical Director of North Cardiff Dental & Implants, explained that the real impact lies not in individual features but in how the system connects every stage of care.
He said, ‘For me, it’s about managing complexity. From imaging and diagnosis through to planning, surgery and documentation, everything sits within one connected workflow. That creates a protective chain for the team. It reduces stress, removes opportunities for miscommunication and allows us to focus on building trust with patients, rather than managing disconnected processes.’
Heritage meets digital evolution
For a company whose reputation has long been built on engineering reliability and clinical confidence, the move into digital imaging represents continuity rather than reinvention.
Speakers highlighted how the same values that have defined W&H for generations, including precision, dependability and a strong understanding of real clinical needs, continue to guide its digital development strategy. As a family-owned organisation with a long-term outlook, investment in connected workflows reflects a commitment to supporting sustained progress across the profession.
Throughout the evening, this relationship between heritage and innovation remained clear. Seethrough was positioned as a natural evolution of W&H’s longstanding focus on clarity, reliability and practical support for clinicians.
Where connection changes care
Beyond technology itself, much of the discussion centred on how integrated imaging can reshape everyday clinical practice.
Bringing imaging directly into the practice environment allows clinicians to review scans, discuss findings and answer questions while patients remain fully engaged in the consultation process. This immediacy helps maintain momentum, supports clearer understanding of treatment options and strengthens patient confidence in clinical decisions.
As an early adopter of the system, Dr Vivak Shah, Principle Dentist at Saving Smiles, noted: ‘Imaging in this timeframe saves weeks from assessment to treatment acceptance. Patients stay engaged, questions are clearer, and decisions can be made while they are still fully involved.’
He also highlighted the wider practice impact, adding: ‘Having integrated imaging has changed how patients view our practice. It strengthens confidence in our clinical processes, supports clearer conversations, and even helps attract associates who want to work in a modern, digitally-enabled environment.’
A glimpse of connected dentistry ahead
As conversations continued beyond the formal presentations, it became clear that the launch had resonated on multiple levels. Attendees spoke about the growing importance of integrated digital ecosystems in shaping the future of dentistry, with many reflecting on how connected workflows could support clearer communication, stronger patient engagement and more predictable clinical outcomes.
For W&H, the unveiling of Seethrough represents more than the introduction of a new imaging portfolio. It signals a broader commitment to supporting dentistry’s digital evolution in a way that remains grounded in reliability, practicality and human-centred design.
For those present at 53two, the evening felt less like a conventional product launch and more like a shared moment of industry progress. If the night had begun in rain, the vision presented inside offered something closer to a ray of sunshine: a clearer, more connected view of how digital dentistry may increasingly look in everyday clinical practice.
Guests were welcomed with drinks and canapés, while Eyecon Art added a distinctive visual opportunity to those gathered, setting the tone for an evening that felt as creative as it was clinically focused.
Conversations flowed easily as clinicians, partners and industry colleagues reconnected with familiar faces and met new ones from across the UK dental community. The mood during the event reflected a shared sense of curiosity and anticipation, as attendees came together to see the unveiling of W&H’s new Seethrough digital solution and to explore what speakers described as the company’s new chapter in digital dentistry.
Only later did the wider response become clear. Across social media, attendees described the event as engaging and genuinely enjoyable, highlighting not only the opportunity to see new technology first-hand, but also the strength of the professional conversations and networking.
Many emphasised that the evening felt less like a traditional product launch and more like a collaborative moment for the dental community, with discussions focused as much on the future of workflows and patient care as on the technology itself.
A profession at a turning point
Dentistry is increasingly shaped by digital capability. Imaging, planning, communication and treatment delivery are becoming more closely interconnected, with clinicians expecting technologies that support clarity, confidence and efficiency at every stage of care.
However, as discussions throughout the evening reflected, the reality in many practices remains complex. Digital tools often operate in isolation, requiring clinicians to move between multiple systems just to complete a single workflow. Rather than simplifying processes, technology can sometimes introduce additional steps, creating demands on time, co-ordination and communication.
As Jon Bryant, W&H Managing Director, explained: ‘For decades, W&H has developed instruments that surgeons trust. But we recognised that true progress isn’t about individual products, it’s about the entire workflow. So we challenged ourselves to go further. What we unveiled isn’t simply a new product line, but a fully integrated system, built from the ground up to redefine how clinicians work.’
The Seethrough ecosystem was presented as a connected platform bringing imaging, planning and surgical workflows into one seamless environment. By bridging gaps between stages of care, it serves to reduce digital friction and enable workflows that are clearer, more intuitive and better aligned with real clinical practice.
Drawing on his clinical experience using the system in practice, Dr Aly Virani, Implant Dentist & Clinical Director of North Cardiff Dental & Implants, explained that the real impact lies not in individual features but in how the system connects every stage of care.
He said, ‘For me, it’s about managing complexity. From imaging and diagnosis through to planning, surgery and documentation, everything sits within one connected workflow. That creates a protective chain for the team. It reduces stress, removes opportunities for miscommunication and allows us to focus on building trust with patients, rather than managing disconnected processes.’
Heritage meets digital evolution
For a company whose reputation has long been built on engineering reliability and clinical confidence, the move into digital imaging represents continuity rather than reinvention.
Speakers highlighted how the same values that have defined W&H for generations, including precision, dependability and a strong understanding of real clinical needs, continue to guide its digital development strategy. As a family-owned organisation with a long-term outlook, investment in connected workflows reflects a commitment to supporting sustained progress across the profession.
Throughout the evening, this relationship between heritage and innovation remained clear. Seethrough was positioned as a natural evolution of W&H’s longstanding focus on clarity, reliability and practical support for clinicians.
Where connection changes care
Beyond technology itself, much of the discussion centred on how integrated imaging can reshape everyday clinical practice.
Bringing imaging directly into the practice environment allows clinicians to review scans, discuss findings and answer questions while patients remain fully engaged in the consultation process. This immediacy helps maintain momentum, supports clearer understanding of treatment options and strengthens patient confidence in clinical decisions.
As an early adopter of the system, Dr Vivak Shah, Principle Dentist at Saving Smiles, noted: ‘Imaging in this timeframe saves weeks from assessment to treatment acceptance. Patients stay engaged, questions are clearer, and decisions can be made while they are still fully involved.’
He also highlighted the wider practice impact, adding: ‘Having integrated imaging has changed how patients view our practice. It strengthens confidence in our clinical processes, supports clearer conversations, and even helps attract associates who want to work in a modern, digitally-enabled environment.’
A glimpse of connected dentistry ahead
As conversations continued beyond the formal presentations, it became clear that the launch had resonated on multiple levels. Attendees spoke about the growing importance of integrated digital ecosystems in shaping the future of dentistry, with many reflecting on how connected workflows could support clearer communication, stronger patient engagement and more predictable clinical outcomes.
For W&H, the unveiling of Seethrough represents more than the introduction of a new imaging portfolio. It signals a broader commitment to supporting dentistry’s digital evolution in a way that remains grounded in reliability, practicality and human-centred design.
For those present at 53two, the evening felt less like a conventional product launch and more like a shared moment of industry progress. If the night had begun in rain, the vision presented inside offered something closer to a ray of sunshine: a clearer, more connected view of how digital dentistry may increasingly look in everyday clinical practice.