This document discusses how information technology has transformed the dental field. It describes how simulation clinics are now being used to educate dental students using virtual reality simulations. Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is also incorporated, using digital scans and software to fabricate dental materials like crowns and bridges. Electronic health records have replaced paper records for increased efficiency. Digital radiography provides enhanced images while reducing radiation exposure for patients compared to traditional film. New technologies on the horizon may further advance dental treatment.

1. September 16, 2016
McKaila Daniels
CSC124-44 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY
Abstract
This paper will talk about how IT advances in
digital technology has transformed the dental
practice. CAD/CAM has incorporated many
machines that fabricate dental materials. Digital
radiography helps the patient along with the
dentist to enhance the dental experience. You
will see many of the advantages to these new
technologies.

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Table of Contents
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................2
Education...........................................................................................................................................2
Simulation Clinics............................................................................................................................2
Advantages.....................................................................................................................................2
Computer Aided Design (CAD).............................................................................................................3
Materials and Impression Techniques/Pre-Fabricated Appliances......................................................3
Metals........................................................................................................................................3
Silica Based Ceramics...................................................................................................................3
Oxide High Performance Ceramics................................................................................................4
Advantages.....................................................................................................................................4
Electronic Records..............................................................................................................................4
Medical Alerts ................................................................................................................................5
Digital Radiology.................................................................................................................................5
Image Enhancement .......................................................................................................................5
Reduction of Radiology Exposure.....................................................................................................5
Future technologies............................................................................................................................6
Conclusion .........................................................................................................................................6
Works Cited ...........................................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.

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Introduction
Today, the dental field is incorporating Information Technology (IT) in almost everything they
do due to the rapid development of computer and IT in the past decade. Hygienists and
Dentists are even taught with IT. CAD/CAM is used with the materials that dentists use every
day whether it be for impressions or models they are working on. Also, instead of paper file
records, dental offices are going to electronic records in almost all offices. The biggest
improvement in dentistry is the transformation from film radiology to digital radiology. It
provides a better image on a computer screen, and also protects patients by reducing radiology
exposure. Many newer technological advances are being introduced into the dental field
including electrically accelerated and enhanced remineralization which could lead to new
treatments for advanced decay of teeth.
Education
Information Technology is being utilized in educating dental hygienists worldwide.
Simulation Clinics
Simulation clinics are being used to teach many dental students. At the Virginia
Commonwealth University, School of Dentistry they incorporate virtual reality simulation into
their curricula. They regularly expose students to lifelike scenarios that reinforce and enhance
knowledge gained from classroom education. VCU is one of the seven dentistry schools in the
nation with DentiSim technology which is an interactive systemthat combines a patient, an
online instructor, and medical information into one product.
Advantages
 Students prepare more teeth and reach a higher performance level in less time
compared to traditional teaching systems.
 The learning process is more effective and allows for advanced training for students,
making them better in their field of study.

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 More patients can be seen at the school and the dispersal of patients to different levels
of treatment is more effective, leading to improved treatment for patients and more
experience for students as they join their professional community (Simulation, 2014).
Computer Aided Design (CAD)
CAD/CAM is an acronym for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing. For
decades it had been used in the manufacturing business to produce meticulousness tools and
parts. CAD/CAM technology has been progressively integrated into dentistry over the past
twenty years.
This technology along with metal-free materials is used by dentists and dental labs to provide
patients with crushed ceramic crowns, veneers, onlays, inlays and bridges. Dental CAD/CAM is
also used to produce abutments for dental implantations to fill in missing teeth.
Three components to CAD/CAM systems
Digitalization tool or scanner that converts geometry into digital information that is then
processed by a computer.
Software that processes the information and, depending on the application, produces a
data set for the product to be fabricated.
Made by production technology translating the data.
Materials and Impression Techniques/Pre-Fabricated Appliances
The list of normal materials for processing by CAD/CAM is as follows:
Metals
Titanium, Titanium alloys and chrome cobalt alloys are processed using dental milling
machines.1
Silica Based Ceramics
Lithium disilicated ceramic blocks are specifically important in this group due to their higher
stability values. They can be used for full anatomical anterior and posterior crowns. Glass
1 Millingmachine:A machinethat uses rotary cutters to remove material from a workpiece by advancingin a
direction atan anglewith the axis of the tool.

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ceramics are appropriate with chairside treatment as a result of their translucent characteristics
similar to the natural look of the tooth structure. These ceramics can be inserted very well using
adhesive methods due to their relatively high portion of glass.
Oxide High Performance Ceramics
 Yttrium Stabilized Zirconium
Zirconium dioxide is a high-performance oxide ceramic with exceptional mechanical
features. It has more strength and toughness compared to other dental ceramics. This
strength allows the ceramic to be used as material for framework material for crowns
and FPDs2.
 White stage processing is a density type stage that involves pre-sintered
blanks. The organic compressing components vanish due to thermal pre-
treatments, and the blank becomes
stable. Processing of white stage light
can be with either carbide metal
grinders without cooling water or with
diamond grinders with liquid cooling
(Beuer, Schweiger, & Edelhoff, 2008).
(See Figure 1)
Advantages
CAD/CAM technologies have started an innovative age in dentistry. Quality of prostheses has
improved considerably by the standardized production procedure. This allows for very efficient
quality management. It has increased the productivity greatly and altered dental labs from
manufacturers to modern computerized production centers (DiMatteo, 2016).
Electronic Records
An EHR is an electronic patient record that stands for Electronic Health Record. Many dental
offices are turning to this method instead of traditional paper filing methods due to its
2 FPD: Refers to a fixed partial denture, or a bridge.
Figure 1: Zirconium oxide after the milling
process

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efficiency. An EHR is defined as a complete longitudinal history of a patient’s health care across
all settings and happenstances as well as the data types and relations that enable it to be
created, stored, and operated electronically.
Medical Alerts
An EHR system can potentially improve care quality and patient safety by enhancing both the
quantity and quality of data available to providers to make decisions about patient care. The
system captures very detailed clinical data. It can also analyze quality assessments and identify
areas for improvement. The system designs support tools like allergy alerts and medication
alerts (Electronic Health Records, 2016).
Digital Radiology
Dental professionals are currently using digital radiograph to better diagnose, treat, and
monitor oral conditions and diseases. It is a type of X-ray imaging technique that used digital X-
ray sensors instead of the traditional photographic X-ray film. It produces enhanced digital
images of teeth, gums, and other oral structures and conditions.
Image Enhancement
Digital radiographs can be viewed instantly on a computer screen. They can be manipulated to
enhance contrast, color, and details. The digital radiographs have features like 3-D, sharpness,
flip, zoom, and more. These features help the patient to better interpret the condition they
experience orally.
Reduction of Radiology Exposure
Along with all the new and improved features, digital radiography also is safer for the patient.
Traditional film requires radiation to get a clear image inside a patient’s oral cavity. With digital
radiography the patient will experience fifty to eighty percent less radiation than film (Rondon,

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2016).
Future technologies
Although these are a couple of the current technologies being used, there are new technologies
that are being tested for use in dentistry. There is a new technology coming out called
electrically accelerated and enhanced remineralization that could put an end to fillings for
early-stage lesions (cavities) and moderate tooth decay. It uses low frequency electr (Saini,
2016)ical currents to help “self-heal” cavities without drilling (Phillip, 2014).
Conclusion
There are manynewadvancesinthe dental fieldtoday.Simulationclinicshave playalarge role in how
studentslearnbecause itismore effective andmakestheirperformance better inthe “dental world”
today.CAD/CAMis a newtechnique beingincorporatedthatinvolvesmanydifferentmaterialsto
manufacture crowns, veneers,onlays,inlaysandbridges.Manydental officesare turningtoelectronic
recordsdue to its efficiency.Digital radiographyisone of the mostwidelyusedtechnology.Many
dentistsare still usingfilm,butdigital radiographyisbecomingthe betteroptionforthe userandthe
patient.These newtechnologiesare becomingpartof the everydaylivesof dental practitioners.IThas
playedakeyrole in these practices,andwill continue tointhe future.
Digital vs Film
Digital = Efficient and Safer
Film = Harmful and Less Effective

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Works Cited
Beuer,F.,Schweiger,J.,&Edelhoff,D.(2008).Digital Dentistry. British DentalJournal,505-511.
RetrievedfromBritishDentalJournal:
http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v204/n9/full/sj.bdj.2008.350.html
DiMatteo,A.(2016, September15). Shaping Dentistry with CAD/CAMTechnology.RetrievedfromYour
DentistryGuide:http://www.yourdentistryguide.com/cad-cam-tech/
Electronic Health Records.(2016, September16).RetrievedfromADA:http://www.ada.org/en/member-
center/member-benefits/practice-resources/dental-informatics/electronic-health-records
Phillip,A.(2014, June 16). An end to Drilling atthe Dentist Office.RetrievedfromWashingtonPost:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/06/16/this-new-technology-
may-put-an-end-to-drilling-at-the-dentists-office/
Rondon,N.(2016, September16). Digital Dental Radiography:Zooming in on the Futureof Dental
Imaging.RetrievedfromYourDentisryGuide:http://www.yourdentistryguide.com/digital-
radiography/
Simulation.(2014, July10). Retrievedfrom http://www.dentistry.vcu.edu/programs/simulation/