Summary
Highlights
Dr. Yara Oweis begins by comparing dental education in the past, using overhead projectors, to today's technology-driven learning, where students can watch videos and professors can extensively demonstrate procedures. She emphasizes how technology has revolutionized dental practice, moving from traditional methods to modern alternatives, which has profoundly impacted diagnosis, treatment, and research.
The intraoral camera is introduced as a small device that allows dentists to show patients their oral issues on a screen, making it easier to explain and monitor treatments. This tool enhances patient understanding and engagement. Dr. Oweis then contrasts traditional dental radiography, which involved time-consuming film processing, with modern digital radiographic sensors. Digital sensors provide sharper, more detailed images faster, with less radiation exposure. However, their high cost remains a barrier to widespread adoption.
Cone Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT) is presented as an advanced diagnostic tool offering 3D images of oral structures, providing more detailed information than traditional 2D X-rays. CBCT is crucial for root canal treatments, planning complex surgeries like wisdom tooth extractions, and dental implant placement. It provides accurate 3D images with lower radiation, allowing for precise measurements of bone height and width. Like other new technologies, its higher cost limits its common use.
Dr. Oweis delves into fixed and removable prosthodontics, comparing the traditional manual workflow for crowns and bridges with the newer digital workflow, or CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) technique. The manual process often leads to inaccuracies due to human error. In contrast, the digital workflow uses intraoral cameras for digital impressions, allowing for computer-aided design and milling of prostheses. This method results in more precise and accurate dental restorations with fewer errors. Despite its benefits, the high cost of equipment and software restricts its widespread use, though Dr. Oweis anticipates a future where prices decrease, making it more accessible.
The use of lasers in dentistry is discussed, highlighting their application in gum surgeries, teeth whitening, bacteria removal, and biopsies. Lasers are less invasive, more comfortable for patients, and offer greater precision. Virtual reality (VR) is explored as a tool to help patients visualize procedures to reduce anxiety and as a safe training environment for dental students, although it is not widely available due to cost. Finally, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is presented as a significant development, particularly in dental research. AI algorithms analyze patient data, including photographs and X-rays, to detect patterns and identify potential issues like oral premalignant lesions with high accuracy, offering a less invasive diagnostic alternative to biopsies. AI is also used in radiography for detecting caries and periapical lesions, as well as in orthodontics and periodontics. Dr. Oweis concludes by reiterating that technology is the future of dental practice and expresses hope for increased accessibility as costs decline.