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Digital Dentistry

Digital Dentistry and changing Landscape

Dentists and dental laboratory technicians are well aware of the importance of good communication in order to facilitate the best possible outcomes in restorative cases. Knowing it and doing it, however, are 2 different things, and in many cases there are still a number of gaps in the typical doctor-technician communication process. Whether it is an inadequate impression, or a failure to accurately convey the desired shade, it is not uncommon for dentists to omit helpful information in their instructions to labs. On the laboratory side, some dental technicians may struggle with effectively conveying to dentists how they might communicate this information more clearly.

The increasing expectations of today’s dental patients put additional pressure on the relationships between doctors and their dental technicians. Patients expect a smooth process in the dental office with highly aesthetic results, and they are also expressing a desire for an increased level of comfort during procedures. These factors all contribute to the importance of communication between the dentist and the laboratory. 

While any number of factors can contribute to an undesirable result in the restorative process, in many cases “the human element” is likely a major cause. A poor impression or vague instructions on the dentist’s part can start things on the wrong foot, and on the lab side, technique-dependent materials and processes leave a lot to chance. The dental community is discovering that, as in many other industries, reducing some of the human element in the restorative procedure may lead to more predictable and reliable results. At the same time, the technologies used to achieve this goal can also help improve communication between the dentist and the laboratory team.

Capitalizing on Digital Technologies
 
During the past years, a flood of digital technologies has changed the dental world, many of them offering tools that increase automation and move away from the people-driven techniques that can introduce errors. This is obviously seen in many CAD/CAM technologies and in the newer digital impression-taking systems. 

Digital impressions, in particular, can go a long way in improving the team communication between dentists and dental technicians, and in reducing errors. The Lava Chairside Oral Scanner (C.O.S.) (3M ESPE), for example, gives the dentist numerous tools to check and review a digital scan before submitting it to the laboratory, which allows the dentist to ensure that all necessary information has been captured. With digital impression-taking, dentists no longer have to dread receiving calls from their laboratory team with the news that an impression is inadequate; the quality of the impression can be confirmed while the patient is still in the doctor’s chair. 

But even with these technologies, the possibility of user error, resulting in restorations being compromised, still exists. One example of this can be seen with certain zirconia crowns. While zirconia itself is known for strength, reports have surfaced in recent years that the porcelain overlays on some of these restorations were prone to chipping. Additional investigation, however, revealed that in most cases, this chipping was due to poor design of the zirconia coping; specifically coping designs that left the overlying porcelain unsupported.

Eliminating Variation

A recently introduced laboratory tool offers the potential to further reduce the chance of this human error in designing zirconia substructures and porcelain overlays; the Lava Digital Veneering System (DVS) (3M ESPE) utilizes a standardized CAD/CAM veneering process to better control the variables in the design of a zirconia restoration. With this system, the zirconia coping and glass ceramic veneer are digitally designed, milled separately, and then bonded together with a special fusion porcelain. The system eliminates the need to hand-layer porcelain, increasing productivity for the laboratory teams and reducing the chance of failure due to improper design. 

The Lava DVS is designed to maximize productivity for dental laboratories, but the opportunity also exists for dental technicians to apply advanced techniques to enhance characterization. Each of the 3 components of the system is available in multiple shades and translucencies, and both the zirconia coping and inside surface of the glass ceramic veneer can be customized with multiple shades to produce a highly aesthetic restoration. As with natural teeth, the color comes from within using this system. 

This system functions very differently from monolithic restorations, which are popular among many laboratories due to their efficient production, but can only be customized via stain and glaze applied to the exterior of the restorations. The aesthetics of monolithic restorations can be compromised if they are adjusted during the seating and cementation phase. In contrast, with the Lava 3-component DVS, the characterization can be applied internally, thus producing a restoration with translucency and shade variances throughout, creating a lifelike appearance.

Because the Lava DVS utilizes a feldspathic porcelain that is condensed into a block and milled, the variability of this process in the laboratory is dramatically reduced. Research2 has shown the variability among ceramists in this process—no 2 ceramists condense at the same density, even on the same day. Even ceramists at high-end laboratories may not be skilled at properly condensing porcelain. With porcelain condensed in an automated process, dental technicians can be assured that there are no imperfections. In turn, this consistency adds to the strength of the restoration. The quality of the laboratory’s product is consistent between technicians and their various levels of experience. Due to the strength2 of these restorations, they are indicated for patients requiring a posterior full-coverage option. The results of one study that compared the strengths of CAD/CAM sintered to zirconia to both hand veneered and pressed to zirconia copings produced significant findings; the strength of the CAD/CAM sintered restorations was about 80% stronger than when using the other fabrication techniques.2 The following case will demonstrate the use of the Lava DVS system to produce an aesthetic posterior crown, highlighting the simplified communication between the dentist and the dental laboratory team.

CLOSING COMMENTS

The smoothly executed team procedure demonstrated here is typical of restorations fabricated with the new digital tools currently available. Because the restoration was produced digitally from beginning to end, the opportunity for errors to be introduced was minimized, and the restoration fit very well both on the model and in the patient’s mouth. The Lava DVS is designed to offer excellent aesthetics via characterization, without a significant time investment by the dental technician. At the same time, the digital tools used in the case facilitated communication between the dentist and lab, providing clear directions and information. 

Many dentists wish that they could have a laboratory technician working alongside them; digital technology is a means to that end. It helps in making the flow of information between the clinical and dental laboratory teams seamless and efficient, as if they were working side by side. In addition, the introduction of digital technologies actually serves to simplify dialogue, rather than complicating matters. 

Every clinician who practices restorative dentistry faces the challenge of delivering work that provides long-term function and is consistent in quality, fit, and aesthetics; and dental laboratory teams must also continually strive to provide outstanding technical solutions. By working as a team, and utilizing digital tools designed to facilitate collaboration, dentists and dental technicians can provide patients with the best in restorative outcomes.

Digital Radiography (X-rays)

Digital Dental x ray is one of the newest techniques around. The digital radiography provides better dental care and more accurate diagnosis as compared to traditional dental x-rays. The process of digitally capturing an image is much faster, safer and more comfortable to the patients compared to the other techniques. Digital dental x ray shows the dental professionals many things that are not visible by just looking into the mouth. Hence dental x-rays have become an essential part for a thorough dental treatment.

Why Digital x Rays are better than normal x rays