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Oral and dental problems of the typical college-age population are described, and techniques for an adequate examination of the oral cavity are discussed. (JD)

Dental technology program administrators surveyed supported the credentialing of health manpower, felt program accreditation was valuable in meeting demands for educational quality assurance, and saw certification of technicians as beneficial but of little value in terms of recognition and economic gain for the credential holder. (MSE)

Choice of content, teaching methods, and program coordination are discussed. The role of the program coordinator is seen as seeking out relevant resources and ensuring that they are used rather than glossed over. (MSE)

Self-instructional learning modules were used to teach the skill portion of a continuing education course. Short- and long-term results obtained from course evaluations and a follow-up survey indicate that dental hygienists are willing to extend their role to include prosthodontic care. (Author/LC)

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, has become one of the pillars of digital technology in the dental field of prosthodontics. With the burgeoning development in preexisting AM technology and the evolution of new techniques, which are concurrent with the development of printable biomaterials, the application range of the technology has broadened from the construction of diagnostic models to more complex applications such as maxillofacial prosthetics and implant planning. A full understanding of the technology and its related fabrication parameters will enable the maximum benefit from such technology. Therefore, the aim of this review is to represent a range of AM technologies so that prosthodontists and dental technicians can evaluate more closely the advantages and disadvantages of each technique, the application of technology in the field of prosthodontics, areas of current research in the field, and recommendations for areas of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional therapy in growing patients is a highly relevant area in orthodontics. With the increasing integration of computer-aided design and manufacturing technology (CAD/CAM) in orthodontics, we are witnessing significant advancements in the design of orthodontic appliances. Modern 3D printing technologies allow for the creation of complex, customized equipment in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner, using robust and durable resins. Additionally, the creative input of dental CAD design programs has led to the development of new designs. The aim of this report is to present a novel digital orthodontic prescription that aligns with the concept of a "full digital workflow". This prescription utilizes a digital virtual configurator, enabling effective communication between the clinician, the technician and the patient. Using this prescription system, clinicians can easily configurate an orthodontic appliance before sending it to a dental technician for individualisation. 3D printing of the final design can then be performed directly within the dental office or by the technician. This approach allows the clinician to explore different orthodontic equipment options and modules, without the requirement for a demanding and sophisticated design process and without any knowledge of CAD. The availability of the present configurator might represent a fundamental advancement in the field of the CAD/CAM production of removable appliance linked to economic and ecological benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background/Objectives: The technical development of implant-supported fixed dental prostheses (iFDP) initially concentrated on the computer-aided manufacturing of prosthetic restorations (CAM). Advances in information technologies have shifted the focus for optimizing digital workflows to AI-based processes for design (CAD). This pre-clinical pilot trial investigated the feasibility of the automatic design of three-unit iFDPs using CAD software (Dental Manger 2021, 3Shape; DentalCAD 3.1 Rijeka, exocad GmbH). Methods: Two clinical scenarios based on a full dentition were created virtually. Physical models were produced and digitized using two intraoral scanners applying quadrant or full-arch scans (Trios3, 3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark; and Primescan AC, Dentsply Sirona, Bensheim, Germany). For each scenario, iFDP designs were generated automatically using two laboratory software systems (Dental Manger 2021, 3Shape; DentalCAD 3.1 Rijeka, exocad GmbH), resulting in 80 STL datasets (2 scenarios × 2 scan strategies × 2 IOS systems × 5 scan repetitions × 2 software). The files were analyzed clinically for the contact schemes and pontic area. One of the automated designs for each scenario was manually post-processed and one iFDP design for each scenario was manually created by experienced dental technicians (control). The time required for all the design processes was recorded. Results: The automatic design of iFDPs without manual adjustment did not lead to clinically acceptable restorations. The time required for the automatically generated/manually adjusted iFDPs designs was not significantly different to that for the manually designed restorations. Conclusions: Current laboratory software can not automatically generate three-unit iFDPs with clinically acceptable results in terms of the interproximal and occlusal contacts and the pontic design. The automatic iFDP design process currently requires manual adjustment, which means there is no benefit in terms of the working time compared with manually created restorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of digital technologies in dental technician education revolutionized the profession in Asian countries. Despite the growing adoption of digital methods, national examinations predominantly relied on traditional techniques. This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of national examination standards and digital course integration in dental technician education among 5 countries including Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, and China. Data were collected from government agencies, universities, academic organizations, professional associations, and relevant certifying institutions. The study examined the educational methodologies and regulatory frameworks in these countries, focusing on incorporating digital technologies in training and assessment. The findings revealed significant variations in the integration of digital technologies. Japan and South Korea made substantial progress in embedding digital education in their curricula, while the Philippines and China remained in the early stages. Taiwan showed a balanced approach with a mixture of digital and traditional methods. Practical examinations in most countries remained rooted in conventional techniques, highlighting a gap between educational advancements and examination practices. To better prepare students for the evolving demands of the dental technology industry, it was crucial to adopt a balanced approach that combined digital learning with hands-on training. This study advocated for educational reforms that bridged the gap between traditional training methods and modern digital practices. Enhanced international cooperation and the continuous updating of training programs were essential for advancing the quality of dental technician education, which in turn improved overall oral health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background/Objectives: Aesthetics is a challenging aspect to restore for both dentists and dental technicians. One of the characteristics of aesthetic restoration is the shade. The purpose of the study is to assess the accuracy of the shade selection feature of intraoral scanners (CEREC Omnican, 3Shape TRIOS) in comparison with an already established method—the VITA Easyshade V spectrophotometer (VE)—and test if there is any significant difference between the three devices. Methods: To conduct this in vitro study, the VITA Classical shade guide was used. The intraoral scanners would not be able to scan the VITA Classical as it is, hence, a study model (SM) was fabricated. To be able to test the accuracy of the intraoral scanners (IOSs) in detecting the dental color, a spectrophotometer had to be included in the study, as it was shown that it is the most accurate instrument for this purpose. Therefore, for the current study, the VITA Easyshade V spectrophotometer (VITA Zahnfabrik, Bad Sackingen, Germany) was selected. Results: The accuracy of the three devices when measuring the shade of the study model was calculated as a percentage. When comparing the primary results of the VE and the results obtained by the Omnicam and TRIOS, the latter is the most accurate (26.67%), whereas the other two scored 20%. The study also revealed the limitations of the instrumental devices that were used. Conclusions: First, both the VE and IOSs obtained unexpectedly low accuracy results. Possibly, the material VC is made of influenced the final accuracy values, but in practice, on a daily basis, dental materials represent a factor that cannot really be controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We propose a method utilizing mixed reality (MR) goggles (HoloLens 2, Microsoft) to facilitate impacted canine alignment, as planning the traction direction and force delivery could benefit from 3D data visualization using mixed reality (MR). Methods: Cone‐beam CT scans featuring isometric resolution and low noise‐to‐signal ratio were semi‐automatically segmented in Inobitec software. The exported 3D mesh (OBJ file) was then optimized for the HoloLens 2. Using the Unreal Engine environment, we developed an application for the HoloLens 2, implementing HoloLens SDK and UX Tools. Adjustable pointers were added for planning attachment placement, traction direction, and point of force application. The visualization was presented to participants of a course on impacted teeth treatment, followed by a 10‐question survey addressing potential advantages (5‐point scale: 1 = totally agree, 5 = totally disagree). Results: Out of 38 respondents, 44.7% were orthodontists, 34.2% dentists, 15.8% dental students, and 5.3% dental technicians. Most respondents (44.7%) were between 35 and 44 years old, and only 1 (2.6%) respondent was 55–64 years old. Median answers for six questions were 'totally agree' (25th percentile 1, 75th percentile 2) and for four questions 'agree' (25th percentile 1, 75th percentile 2). No correlation was found between age, profession, and responses. Conclusion: Our method generated substantial interest among clinicians. The initial responses affirm the potential benefits, supporting the continued exploration of MR‐based techniques for the treatment of impacted teeth. However, the recommendation for widespread use awaits validation through clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal for Medical and Health Law deals with selected case studies related to competition between doctors and other professional groups. It highlights legal boundaries and possibilities in competition, especially regarding blood tests in pharmacies, the reservation of dental technicians, holding a medical doctorate, and misleading advertising by the Pharmacists' Association. The decisions of the Supreme Court illustrate the importance of competition law in the medical field and compliance with legal regulations. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: To investigate whether inexperienced users applying a static navigation system can perform in-vitro a fully guided implant placement protocol and achieve similar results in terms of accuracy compared to experienced clinicians. Methods: Based on 36 identical resin models, a computer-assisted implant planning was performed and a surgical guide was produced accordingly. Three study groups were composed with 12 operators, each: control group with experienced surgeons (DOC), test group 1 with dental technicians (TEC) and test group 2 with non-specialists (OFC). Using a fully guided drilling protocol, two implants were placed into each of the 36 models. Subsequently, the differences between the virtually planned and final implant positions were determined and the transfer accuracy was evaluated. Results: For the control group DOC, the mean value of axial deviation was 1.90 ± 1.15 degrees, for 3-dimensional deviation at the implant base 0.52 ± 0.33 mm, for 3-dimensional deviation at the implant tip 0.76 ± 0.39 mm and for vertical deviation at the implant tip − 0.11 ± 0.51 mm. For corresponding parameters, the mean values of test group TEC were 1.99 ± 0.87 degrees, 0.42 ± 0.21 mm, 0.68 ± 0.30 mm and − 0.03 ± 0.33 mm and for test group OFC 2.29 ± 1.17 degrees, 0.63 ± 0.35 mm, 0.89 ± 0.43 mm and − 0.24 ± 0.57 mm, respectively. The results did not reveal any statistically significant differences between the control and the 2 test groups (p˃0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present in-vitro study demonstrated that inexperienced users applying a static navigation system can perform a fully guided implant placement protocol and achieve similar results in terms of accuracy compared to experienced clinicians in this specific in vitro setup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the average time for patients to adapt to mandibular complete dentures (CDs) and the factors associated with this critical period. Materials and Methods: In total, 108 completely edentulous patients were rehabilitated using CDs. Adaptation was evaluated based on the following criteria: mastication, comfort, speech, and swallowing with dentures. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the average time to adaptation. The logrank test was used to assess the adaptation period and associated factors. Results: Of the 108 rehabilitated patients, 89 had adapted to mandibular CDs at the 6-month follow-up. The mean time to adaptation estimated from the Kaplan-Meier curve was 78.54 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 71.04 to 86.04). The factors associated with the adaptation period were previous experience with a mandibular denture (P = .032), the professional who made the previous CDs (P = .034), frequency of appearance of traumatic lesions after 15 days of rehabilitation (P = .023), posterior mandibular ridge height (P = .005), and regular use of the new dentures (P = .002). Conclusions: Most patients adapted to mandibular dentures after 2.6 months. Lack of prior experience with mandibular dentures, use of old dentures made by a dental technician, occurrence of traumatic injuries 15 days after CD delivery, presence of a resorbed posterior mandibular ridge, and nonregular wear were associated with longer adaptation time to new mandibular CDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ABSTRACT Objective Overview Conclusions Clinical Significance In extensive prosthetic rehabilitations and in those involving the anterior area, a correct 3D spatial position is of fundamental importance for effective communication between the clinician and the dental technician. The aim of this article is to analyze the different methods used to position in space and/or in an articulator the maxillary arch in analog workflows highlighting shortcomings and difficulties in order to understand how to overcome them when employing digital workflows.Traditional mechanical devices, such as anatomical, kinematic, esthetic and postural facebows, have clear indications, but also limitations, especially in cases of skeletal asymmetries. Modern digital tools, including photography, CBCT, facial scanners and jaw recording devices, are here critically analyzed to illustrate the advantages of working in a virtual space.The adoption of digital tools in the prosthetic workflow represents a significant improvement compared to traditional techniques, as it reduces errors and artifacts of registration and transfer of the position of the maxillary arch in the articulator space. This contributes to more predictable esthetic and functional results, with a positive impact for clinicians and technicians, improving clinical‐laboratory communication, operational efficiency and overall quality of work.The integration of digital tools into prosthetic workflows represents an important advancement in clinical practice since they reduce human error and facilitate communication between the clinician and the laboratory. When carrying out rehabilitations involving changes in esthetics or occlusal plane orientation, the proper and accurate positioning of the upper arch in space is particularly relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During a crown generation procedure, dental technicians depend on commercial software to generate a margin line to define the design boundary for the crown. The margin line generation remains a non-reproducible, inconsistent, and challenging procedure. In this work, we propose to generate margin line points on prepared teeth meshes using adaptive point learning inspired by the AdaPointTr model. We extracted ground truth margin lines as point clouds from the prepared teeth and crown bottom meshes. The chamfer distance (CD) and infoCD loss functions were used for training a supervised deep learning model that outputs a margin line as a point cloud. To enhance the generation results, the deep learning model was trained based on three different resolutions of the target margin lines, which were used to back-propagate the losses. Five folds were trained and an ensemble model was constructed. The training and test sets contained 913 and 134 samples, respectively, covering all teeth positions. Intraoral scanning was used to collect all samples. Our post-processing involves removing outlier points based on local point density and principal component analysis (PCA) followed by a spline prediction. Comparing our final spline predictions with the ground truth margin line using CD, we achieved a median distance of 0.137 mm. The median Hausdorff distance was 0.242 mm. We also propose a novel confidence metric for uncertainty quantification of generated margin lines during deployment. The metric was defined based on the percentage of removed outliers during the post-processing stage. The proposed end-to-end framework helps dental professionals in generating and evaluating margin lines consistently. The findings underscore the potential of deep learning to revolutionize the detection and extraction of 3D landmarks, offering personalized and robust methods to meet the increasing demands for precision and efficiency in the medical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Quintessenz der Zahntechnik is the property of Quintessenz Verlags GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)