- Computer Aid Design (CAD)
"Computer aided design (CAD)" and "Computer aided manufacturing (CAM)" are very important in digital dentistry. In addition to introducing their functions, I will also describe how the two complement each other.
Computer aided design (CAD): When the dental technician receives the image scan of the oral cavity, he can use various digital data and software to reconstruct the image. From the results of image reconstruction, various dentures, restorations and surgical guides are produced. Since all processes are produced through electronic file transmission, the accuracy of dental technicians in denture production is greatly improved, which also helps to improve the quality of doctors' treatment.
When the quality of medical care and the accuracy of denture production are improved, it will not only help extend the service life of patients' dentures, but also make the smile appear more natural.
- Use of Computer Aid Design (CAD)
Benefits of CAD to patients, from outpatient consultation to final treatment, when computer-aided design (CAD) is used, it means that all processes must be digitized.
After taking digital impressions, the dental technician can use computer-aided design (CAD) to simulate and make the dentures and surgical guides first. When modifications are needed, it is different from the traditional denture manufacturing method, which requires repeated wax carving and casting to produce errors. CAD design can improve the accuracy of the entire production process and also increase the quality of the dentures.
For patients, having natural-looking dentures means regaining their smile as if they were reborn. The improved chewing function of dentures also allows patients to absorb more complete nutrients, increasing their health and vitality.
- Computer Aid Manufacturing (CAM)
Computer aided manufacturing (CAM): After the dental technician receives the patient's complete information, he will first use computer-aided design (CAD) to simulate, denture production and surgical guide design. When all production is finalized, the digital files will be transferred to the computer software that controls the production. CAM will set the computer software according to the production method and final required quality.
The computer software will use automated operations to complete the production based on the data and information settings. Currently, the main production methods are lathe cutting machines and 3D printing.
- (CAM) X Lathe cutting machine X 3D printing
3D Printer: Using 3D printing to produce customized dentures, the quality is stable, the precision is high, and the production time is relatively fast. Doctors can quickly find out the areas that need to be repaired through the finished product and let the patient do a trial wear, which improves the accuracy of treatment and reduces risks.
- Traditional crown production VS. CAM-assisted production
The difference between traditional crown production and CAM-assisted crown production.
With the assistance of CAM, dentures and surgical auxiliary guides produced using 3D printing or turning machines are produced according to the patient's needs and oral conditions. The dentures are relatively precise and stable in quality.
With the traditional production method, dental technicians must repeatedly compare and cast the dental molds. Not only is the production process cumbersome, but once modifications or carvings are needed, they have to start all over again.
- Benefits of CAM to patients
"What are the benefits of these to patients? Can they shorten the treatment time? Increase the aesthetics?" The above are all correct!
Earlier, I analyzed and compared traditional crown production and CAM-assisted crown production. Today I will talk about the benefits of CAM for patients.
Last week we mentioned that when all treatment processes are digitized, the accuracy of treatment can be improved. Relatively speaking, CAM is also an important part of digital therapy.
When the quality of dentures made using computers is improved, dental technicians only need to make minor modifications, including polishing and enamel staining, and patients can try them on and adhere them immediately on the appointment date with the doctor, thereby shortening the time and frequency of medical treatments.
- How CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) complement each other
Simply put, CAD/CAM is "computer-aided design/aided production". From consultation to the entire treatment process planning, dental implant surgery, bone grafting and other steps, to the final denture design, computers are used for image analysis, simulation, and customized drawing.
From the reconstruction of large oral cavity to the production of small prostheses, braces, veneers, dental implants, dentures, etc. can all be assisted by CAD/CAM. In addition, CAD/CAM is also very helpful for anterior tooth aesthetics.
- Application of CAD/CAM XPatient
The application of CAD/CAM plays a role in all-ceramic dentures and is the greatest help to patients in treatment.
Today, let’s first talk about the “benefits of CAD/CAM to patients”. I will analyze it in several aspects.
Making dental implants and dentures: For modern people who compete for every second, "time saving" is very important! Using CAD/CAM, dentures can be completed on the same day. Moreover, at the front end of the process, the patient can first confirm whether it meets the requirements, and then it is finally produced through a grinder.
Why can using CAD/CAM save time? Because when all processes are digitized, the manual work process can be streamlined and quality and customization can be achieved.
Help for patients "Treatment".
In the past, the accuracy of implant placement and denture positioning relied on the physician’s training and accumulated experience. When doctors perform all treatment actions, they can only rely on X-rays, lateral cranial cross-sections, bite analysis, etc. to simulate them in their minds. Both doctors and patients must bear certain risks during treatment.
CAD/CAM can produce personalized surgical guides based on the patient's oral condition. Doctors can monitor the patient's oral and physiological conditions at any time during treatment, allowing them to find the ideal position more accurately and accurately during implant placement or diagnosis and treatment, reducing the risk of failure.
- CAD/CAM all-ceramic denture production
During the treatment process, in addition to practicality, time saving, and risk, more and more patients will add "aesthetics" to the treatment process.
Today I will talk about "all-ceramic crown dentures" produced by CAD/CAM.
All-ceramic dental crowns simply mean that the inner and outer layers are made of ceramics. The two most common types now are zirconium dioxide and glass-ceramics.
All-ceramic dental crowns produced using CAD/CAM technology are all customized and simulated by computer from design, production, polishing to coloring.
It has good light transmittance, high degree of simulation, good natural presentation, and high hardness of the crown. Combining the above advantages, the color displayed is just like real teeth, which greatly improves the aesthetics.
- All-ceramic denture production VS traditional metal crowns
The difference between "all-ceramic crown dentures" and "metal ceramics".
Before making comparisons, let’s briefly introduce “metal ceramics”. Simply put, ceramic crowns are made of metal.
Although "metal ceramic" has a beautiful effect, its light transmittance is poor, resulting in a dull white appearance. Moreover, the edges of dentures are more likely to produce metal shadows.
As for "all-ceramic crown dentures", in addition to its good light transmittance and high degree of simulation, its melting temperature can be as high as 2260°C, so its heat resistance is relatively good, and the precision of the edges between teeth is also relatively high, and its overall performance is better in terms of appearance and fineness.
- What is a surgical guide?
With the advancement of science and technology, dental technology must also advance. The advent of surgical guides is a great boon to the medical team and patients. So what exactly is a "surgical guide"? What benefits does a surgical guide have for patients? In the following article, I will answer the questions.
Today I will introduce the "Surgical Guide": before making a 3D printed surgical guide, the doctor will first collect digital data using oral scanning machines, X-rays, computerized tomography, etc., then use the assistance of CAD/CAM to perform data calculations, and finally use 3D printing to complete the surgical guide.
- How AR and VR are used in therapy
Many patients are afraid of going to the dentist and feel that going to the dentist will cause psychological pressure. Among them, the most common worry among patients is that the treatment results will not meet their original expectations.
Now with the help of digital imaging, patients can see the simulated changes in teeth during treatment, as well as the general appearance of the smile curve, the overall appearance of the face, and other results. Through real-time communication and correction, it will not only increase the patient's willingness for treatment, but also increase the level of peace of mind and satisfaction, achieving the purpose of communication between doctors and patients.
"The application of AR/VR in the dental field", in fact, in addition to the widespread use of digital technology in dentistry, the amplification and virtualization of the popular real-life technology (AR/VR virtual) can also be used in dental treatment.
- Key points of CAD/CAM
Q:What is Computer Aid Design (CAD)?
A: When the dental technician receives the image scan file of the oral cavity, he can use various digital data and software to reconstruct the image. From the results of image reconstruction, various dentures, restorations and surgical guides are produced.
Q:What is Computer Aid Manufacturing (CAM)?
A: After the dental technician finalizes all the production, the digital files will be transferred to the computer software that controls the production, and a variety of different dentures will be processed using stable and precise grinding machines or 3D printing.
Q: What are the benefits of CAM to patients?
A: CAM is an important part of digital treatment. When the quality of dentures produced using computers is improved, patients can try them on and adhere them immediately on the appointment date with the doctor, thereby shortening the time and frequency of medical treatments.
Q:How do CAD/CAM complement each other?
A: CAD/CAM allows the steps from dental implant surgery, bone grafting to the final denture design to be completed, using computers for image analysis, simulation, and customized drawing.
Q: What are the benefits of using CAD/CAM to patients?
A: With the assistance of CAD/CAM, dentures can be completed on the same day, effectively controlling treatment time, and at the same time achieving the goal of improving medical quality and accuracy.
- Surgical GuideXPrecision Medicine
Discussed the benefits of a series of "surgical guides" for patients in full-mouth prostheses and single-tooth implant. In today's era of precision medicine, "surgical guides" are an indispensable part of treatment.
In the past, dental implant surgery and full-mouth prostheses were prone to increase the risk of surgical failure or errors due to human judgment errors. The reason was that doctors could only interpret the patient's condition through limited data. However, with the rapid advancement of technology, "surgical guides" have improved these problems.
Personalized "surgical guides" produced by 3D printing can assist doctors to accurately judge the position of implant placement during treatment or surgery through prior simulation and customized production. This not only achieves the purpose of precision medicine, but also increases the patient's sense of security during the treatment.
Follow the guide and there will be some changes in the image. Dynamic navigation has a way to correct the GPS image in real time.
- Classification of surgical guides
Surgical guides play an important role in precise treatment. "Full-guided guides" simply put. In the process of dental implant surgery, there are guides and special parts at each step to guide the doctor to place the implant in the correct position, which can improve accuracy and safety.
Fully guided guide plate: Before the dental implant surgery, a professional prosthetic surgeon will discuss the data collected from the patient's oral cavity with the dental technician. According to the different oral conditions, the position, angle, depth, etc. of the dental implant will be built into the guide plate by overlapping the data.
After the customized fully guided guide plate is produced, the surgeon can completely guide the patient to the correct position step by step according to the pre-simulated situation during the operation, and avoid the patient's peripheral oral nerves, blood vessels, maxillary sinus, etc., while reducing the occurrence of implant deflection and improving the success rate of dental implants.
- CAD/CAM X surgical guide production process
Professional pseudosurgeons use oral scanning machines, tomography scans, and facial scanners to collect information about the patient's oral cavity, and then use the obtained data to perform inlays.
Based on the patient's bone condition, occlusion, location of missing teeth, neurovascular conditions, etc., a computer is first used to simulate the tooth arrangement, and then the implant position is planned and designed. Finally, based on the above conditions, with the assistance of CAD/CAM, the guide plate is designed and finalized. Finally, a customized surgical template is produced using 3D printing or a lathe cutting machine.
- CAD/CAM X surgical guide material
All medical materials to be placed into the human body must undergo biocompatibility evaluation and testing to minimize harm to the human body. The same goes for surgical guides.
Most surgical guides are made of resins that have good biocompatibility, low toxin volatility, good castability, and high precision. When selecting materials, doctors will use manufacturers with good brand reputation and approved by various medical clinical experiments as the basis for selecting materials for surgical guides.
As for the positioning collar, it is mainly made of titanium alloy for medical use.
Each material of the surgical guide must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Rigorous manufacturers will then apply for certification by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Surgical Guides: A Quick Reference
Q: What role does the surgical guide play in treatment?
A: The advent of surgical guides can more accurately locate the correct position of dental implants during dental implant surgery, thereby reducing postoperative problems and extending the service life of implants.
Q: What are the benefits of surgical guides for patients?
A: The surgical guide is made according to the situation in the patient's oral cavity. It can assist the doctor in placing the implant in a precise and correct position, thus shortening the operation time and improving the success rate of dental implant.
Q: Are surgical guides customized?
A: Yes! The doctor will use the patient's bone, tooth images and bite records collected, and use the assistance of CAD/CAM to simulate the position, angle, and depth of the dental implant and communicate with the dental technician to design a surgical guide based on the patient's oral condition.
Q:What is a fully guided surgical guide?
A: "Full-guided guide plate" simply put, in the process of dental implant surgery, there are guide plates and special parts at each step to guide the doctor to place the implant in the correct position, which can improve accuracy and safety.
Q: What is the material of the surgical guide?
A: All medical materials must undergo biocompatibility evaluation testing. When selecting materials, surgeons will use manufacturers with good brand reputation and approved by various medical clinical trials as the basis for choosing materials for surgical guides.
- Introduction to 4D minimally invasive dynamic navigation
Surgical guides and "4D minimally invasive dynamic navigation" complement each other in full-mouth prosthesis and dental implant treatment.
Today I will introduce "4D minimally invasive dynamic navigation". Simply put, it is like the Google map or various electronic maps we use, guiding us to reach our destination smoothly, and providing real-time information during route guidance to reduce the risk of getting lost.
In the same way, doctors use oral scanning machines, computerized tomography and other methods to collect the patient's oral data and then send it to "4D dynamic navigation system" for calculation. Based on the different conditions of the patient's oral cavity, the location of the implant can be planned.
The doctor inserts an instrument like a "monitor" on the patient's missing tooth, and uses the "4D dynamic navigation system" dental technology to use positioning to guide the doctor to place the implant in the correct position during the dental implant process. At the same time, it can monitor the bone and nerve conditions in the patient's mouth.
Since "4D dynamic navigation system" can give doctors real-time image feedback during treatment, when something goes wrong during surgery or there is an error in the implant position, doctors can make immediate corrections to reduce the risk of surgical failure.
- What are the benefits of dynamic navigation to patients?
In the treatment of oral prostheses and dental implants, precise treatment, reducing unnecessary tedious steps, narrowing the scope of the wound, and finally getting a good set of teeth are the purpose of all patients choosing to receive dental implants, and this is what doctors ultimately hope to give to their patients.
The key to the success of dental implants lies in angle, depth, and position. With the assistance of "4D dynamic navigation" and a three-dimensional map guide, the accuracy of implant placement can be improved compared to relying on the doctor's experience and mental simulation.
With the assistance of "4D dynamic navigation", doctors can also modify the treatment strategy at any time according to changes in the patient's oral condition. When the repeated revision rate of temporary dentures is reduced, while improving the accuracy of treatment, the treatment time can be shortened.
In the past, doctors could only avoid accidentally touching the high-risk maxillary sinus cavities and mandibular neural tubes during treatment through accumulation of clinical experience and cases in medical journals, as well as repeated simulations and drills in their minds.
Because "4D dynamic navigation" can pre-plan the implant placement throughout the entire treatment plan, and at the same time, it can provide real-time image feedback during treatment, allowing doctors to provide appropriate treatment when faced with uncontrollable risks or emergencies during surgery.
Therefore, during the operation, the scope of the wound can be reduced, thereby shortening the wound healing time. At the same time, under special conditions, "minimally invasive dental implants" can be achieved.
- "Digital Smile Design" digital smile curve design, referred to as "DSD"
Let me first introduce you to "DSD". The doctor will first use a mouth scanning machine to collect the patient's teeth, gums, lip shape, etc., and then use a facial scanning machine to take pictures of the patient's facial features, smile, facial expressions, etc.
Then, the collected data will be analyzed by the image. After obtaining the results of the image analysis, the doctor will create a unique smile curve for the patient.
- DSDX healing role
Whether it is dental implants, dental veneers, 3D tooth engravings, etc., preparatory work through "DSD" digital smile curve design can allow patients to "previously" see the changes in facial features, oral conditions, and final appearance during the treatment process. The patient can discuss with the doctor through image simulation to formulate an exclusive treatment policy. When both parties reach a consensus, treatment will be carried out.
Because through the simulation of "DSD", patients can "predict" the results after treatment, therefore, the sense of gap between expected values can be reduced.
- DSD process
The professional medical team will first take photos of various aspects of the patient's face, record the patient's smiling and non-smiling expressions, and use a facial scanning system to record muscle lines and smile positions.
Then, use the oral scanner to collect information about the patient's oral cavity, including gums, tooth position, oral condition, etc., and understand the patient's needs.
After the doctor collects relevant information, he will start to design the preliminary smile curve. When the patient returns for the next visit, he will conduct a digital preview and discuss it with the patient.
Finally, the doctor will formulate a customized treatment plan based on the treatment the patient needs. ”
- Advantages of DSD
The biggest advantage of "DSD" is that it can "simulate" and "preview" in advance.
When the entire treatment course can be "simulated" in advance, during communication, the plan can be changed or adjusted based on the personalized simulation diagram, and it can be displayed in real time, making communication between doctors and patients smoother.
Then, when "previewing" each important treatment step, the patient's fear of treatment can be reduced.
When the progress of each treatment is recorded with a schematic diagram and can be reviewed at any time as a guideline for fine-tuning the treatment, the treatment time can be shortened and the expected error value can be reduced at the same time.
- DSD XWhy do you need dental veneers?
Modern people are paying more and more attention to "aesthetic" issues. They want to show off their smile gracefully but have yellow teeth, which is not only unsightly but also makes people less confident. This has also led to the birth of digital dental veneers. In addition to solving "aesthetic" problems, what else can dental veneers improve? And how to choose the material of the patch? In the following articles, I will answer the questions one by one.
Before introducing "Digital Dental Veneers", I would like to start from the source of the problem and talk about "Why is it needed?"
Usually "digital dental veneers" are used to help repair the following dental conditions:
Taking tetracycline: Tooth discoloration is divided into "intrinsic" and "extrinsic". Tetracycline is an antibiotic. One of its side effects is that it can cause permanent yellowing of teeth. This will not only affect the appearance, but also seriously affect mental health.
Caused by bad habits: Poor oral hygiene habits lead to the accumulation of tartar and pigment, which will cause the teeth to become increasingly yellow. This type is called "extrinsic yellow teeth".
"Why do you need dental veneers?"
Unsightly shaped teeth: too small teeth, tapered teeth, melon-shaped teeth, etc.
Broken/worn teeth: This can be classified as natural or acquired. Acquired teeth may be caused by teeth grinding, gastroesophageal reflux, uneven bite force for a long time, etc.
Excessively large gaps between teeth: Excessively large gaps between teeth are most likely caused by congenital factors and acquired periodontal disease. If you do not want correction, you can use patches to repair it under the evaluation of a professional doctor.
Gummy smile: The so-called gummy smile means that the ratio of the gums to the crown is incorrect, and the exposed part of the gum exceeds the crown. In addition to using minimally invasive crown augmentation surgery, it can also be corrected with the assistance of patches. ”
- DSDX Why do teeth turn yellow?
Many people come to ask for help and ask about "dental veneers". Most of them are because their teeth look yellow when they smile and they lack confidence when they smile. So today I will talk about "Why do teeth turn yellow?"
"Why do teeth turn yellow?" This question is divided into internal causes and external causes.
Let me give a brief explanation of what endogenous and exogenous factors are. In short, "endogenous" is caused by internal factors, including: genetics, drug-induced discoloration, age, physical disease, pulp necrosis, etc.
"External factors" are caused by external factors, including poor oral hygiene habits, eating habits, smoking, betel nut chewing, etc.
- DSD X porcelain veneers
"Whitening patches", "digital patches", "full ceramic patches", "ceramic patches", etc. are all synonymous with "porcelain veneers". What exactly is this?
"porcelain veneers" is a patch made of porcelain block or glass ceramic, with a thickness of about 0.3mm~0.7mm. Since it is made of all-ceramic material, it does not contain metal components and has high biocompatibility.
"porcelain veneers" has a wide range of applications. Its application scope includes: tooth whitening, appearance repair and plasticity. It can also be used in the aesthetic areas of the front teeth, such as: repairing gaps between incisors, chipped incisors, etc., and can even improve minor bite problems.
- Advantages of all-ceramic crowns
"all-ceramic crown" is reinforced ceramic and does not contain any metal material. Therefore, it has good light transmittance, and the color and appearance can be beautiful and natural. It is not easy to cause allergic reactions in the human body. It has strong hardness and can withstand the bite force. Therefore, when using all-ceramic crown as a brace, it can relatively protect the teeth.
Since all-ceramic crown is precisely budgeted by computer, and then the entire porcelain block is cut and then fired by a cutting and grinding machine, the quality is not only stable, but also allows it to produce customized crowns that suit the patient according to the patient's appearance and oral conditions. ”
- All-ceramic crowns vs traditional crowns
"I have a good set of teeth but I dare not smile because the edges of my gums are black." This is one of the reasons why many patients come to see the doctor again.
Traditional dental crowns in the past contained metal components to some extent. Therefore, when the patient does not clean well and causes secondary tooth decay, or due to gingival recession, metal ion rust and staining caused by age, the problem of blackening of the edges of the crown and gums will occur.
All-ceramic dental crowns do not contain metal components, so there will be no odor and corrosion problems caused by metal rust.
Patients care about the aesthetic appearance. Due to its metal-free composition and good light transmittance, it can produce highly realistic dentures and will not cause shadows on the gums at the neck of the teeth after long-term use.