Digital dentistry

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)[1]
• Digital radiography
  • cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)
  • MRI
  • CT
• Electric and surgical/implant handpieces
• Computer-aided implant dentistry
• 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[2][3]
• Digital X-Rays (includes both direct sensors and indirect phosphor plate systems)
• Dental Loupes
• Virtual and Augmented Reality

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.

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;

Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation which allows for interactive experience, it fully recreates the environment for which the simulation that is ran. Augmented Reality (AR) may be considered a form of virtual reality and is a way of interacting with the real world through a simulation. The objects and individuals are augmented due to them being computer-generated, but are perceived in the real world through a camera onto a screen.

Simulations produced by augmented reality can take on the reason for training activities by using technologically-synthesised features which are able to mimic real life situations.[8] These can be used throughout the career timeline of a profession, from undergraduate students, specialised and training days. VR and AR systems are becoming more common in dental education. They will continue to change clinical training and encourage more receptive ways of processing individual learning needs and self-directed learning. Pedagogical tools such as these are said to lower the costs of the educational process while increasing the quality.

Limitations on digital dentistry include cost, lack of desire to adapt to new dental technology, and misunderstanding of new technologies.[9]

As digital dentistry continues to adapt and becomes more common, the approach to incorporating the topic of digital dentistry in learning outcomes during dental training must also change. As we enter 'the digital age of dental education', future practitioners need to be exposed to new digital procedures in the curriculum and teaching.[10] 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 integration of digital teaching into the education of future physicians and students and the learning of digital technologies which are up to date and relevant.[11]