Abstract :
Dentistry, in particular, the implant dentistry has always been through various leaps and bounds during the last decade. With the advent of various technologies in dentistry, one such cutting edge technology is the digital dental implantology. The digitization in the practice of dentistry; particularly, the dental implantology, is running swiftly and has tremendously helped in shaping the future of dentistry. Digital dentistry involves various digital tools/modalities/sources namely the CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography), intraoral & extraoral (laboratory) scanners, facial scanners with the photogrammetry, CAD (Computer-aided design), CAM (Computer-aided manufacturing) and RP (Rapid prototyping) or 3DP (3D Printing), have influenced the implant practice in a big way. A very important component or heart of the digital implantology is termed as the digital workflow and is readily accessible in the implant practice. Such workflow has tremendously helped the dental practitioner to treat the patients using a stepwise approach at various stages i.e. diagnosis, scanning, designing, and final fabrication of the prosthesis. It has a plethora of advantages i.e. precise planning of the implant restorations associated with reduced complications and thereby ensuring long-term success of the dental implants. A number of issues to be importantly taken into account involve minor inaccuracies associated with the various digital tools, deviations i.e. linear and angular deviations between the planned and the placed implant position, and a steep learning curve, may lead to unsatisfactory results, if neglected. Digital workflows can be successfully integrated into the routine dental practices. This comprehensive review article portrays about the digital modalities & their meticulous usage in the practice of implantology for better accuracy, patient safety, and predictability associated with reduction in the errors and complications in implant practice.
Keyword :
CAD, CAM, CBCT, Dental, Dental implants, Digital, Implantology, Scanners, Workflow