Digital dentistry

Digital dentistry refers to the use of dental technologies or devices that incorporates digital or computer-controlled components to carry out dental procedures rather than using mechanical or electrical tools. The use of digital dentistry can make carrying out dental procedures more efficient than using mechanical tools, both for restorative as diagnostic purposes. 'Godfather' of Digital Dentistry is the French professor François Duret, who invented dental CAD/CAM in 1973.

Digital Dentistry Technologies

Some of the technologies used in digital dentistry include:

• Intra-oral Cameras
• CAD/CAM
  • Computer-aided implant dentistry — including design and fabrication of surgical guides
  • Computer-aided crown manufacturing
• 3D Printing (e.g. to print physical models of digital images taken with intra-oral scans, make appliances, temporaries, surgical guides)
• Digital radiography
  • cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)
  • MRI, CT
• Electric and surgical/implant handpieces
• Photography (extraoral and intraoral)
• Practice and patient record management software — including digital patient education
• Shade matching
• Diagnodent
• Dental lasers
• The Wand- used to carry anesthesia
• Digital X-Rays
• Dental Loupes

Intra-Oral Cameras

X-rays have been extremely valuable for many years in assessments of oral health. However, at times the image produced can show limited information because it is only a 2D image. Intra-oral cameras (IOCs) allow an operator to see a clear image of the inside of the mouth. Similar to the size of a dental mirror IOCs have a tiny camera that is able to detect more on the 3D surface of a tooth than a 2D x-ray image is able to show. Examples include specific locations and sizes of cavities, cracked teeth, excessive erosion, abrasion and many more.

Conventional dental impressions are made by placing an impression material loaded on an impression tray over the dental arches. As it sets a negative imprint of the soft and hard tissues in the mouth. Digital intra-oral impressions made using intra-oral cameras are able to recreate the positive impression of a patient's dentition and other structures into a digital format on a computer almost instantly.

CAD/CAM in Dentistry

CAD/CAM used with Intra-Oral Scanning

Two studies investigated the accuracy of both direct an indirect digitized impressions used to make clinically acceptable zirconia crowns. It was shown that a significantly smaller marginal fit was observed when compared to traditional methods of casting, a more accurate marginal and internal fit. The efficiency and fit of fully ceramic restorations fabricated through CAD/CAM were evaluated through a double-blinded randomized cynical trial. Direct digitized impressions were taken straight from the patients mouths and indirect digitized impression taken from already made impressions. The digitized impressions were then used to create CAD/CAM milled all-ceramic crowns. Between the direct and indirect, the direct digital impression technique was statistically more accurate, they showed significantly better inter-proximal contact. The entire process proved to be more time efficient for both the dentist and patient in comparison with conventional methods or taking impressions with silicone impressions and sending them to a lab.

Use of Dental Technology in Other Areas of Dentistry

Within the dental profession there are already uses for digital dentistry and as technology continues to develop, proposed uses for the futures. Some examples are outlined below;

Limitations

Limitations on digital dentistry include cost, lack of desire to adapt to new dental technology, and misunderstanding of new technologies.

The Future

As digitization fo the dental industry continues there is a need for digital skills to be taught within professional degree programs. Dental Institutes will in addition to traditional programs, need to incorporate digital teaching and the learning of digital technologies which are up to date and relevant. In an article titled "Digital Teaching and Digital Medicine: A national initiative is needed", it is suggested that faculties and ministries should be the ones to encourage this integration into the education of future physicians and students.