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CBCT volume to aid in planning for mandibular implant placement. (Image: Dr Ross Cutts)
Dr Ross Cutts

Dr Ross Cutts

Thu. 3. May 2018

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Undoubtedly, digital dentistry is the current topic. Over the last five years, the entire digital workflow has progressed in leaps and bounds. There are so many different digital applications that it is sometimes difficult to keep up with all the advances. Many dentists are excited about the advantages of new technologies, but there are an equal number who doubt that the improved clinical workflow justifies the expense.

I have many times heard the argument that there is no need to try to fix something that is not broken. It is so true that impressions have their place and there are certainly limitations to the digital workflow that anyone using the technology should be aware of. For me, however, the benefits of digital far outweigh the disadvantages. In fact, the disadvantages are the same as with conventional techniques.

Chairside CAD/CAM single-visit restorations have been possible for over 20 years, but it was only recently that we became able to mill chairside implant crown restorations after the release of Variobase (Straumann) and similar abutments. I made my first CEREC crown (Dentsply Sirona) back in 2003 with a powdered scanner, and the difference from what I remember then to how we can make IPS e.max stained and glazed restorations (Ivoclar Vivadent) now is amazing.

An investment not an expense

The results of a survey regarding the use of CAD/ CAM technology were published online in the British Dental Journal on 18 November 2016. Over a thousand dentists were approached online to take part in the survey and the 385 who replied gave very interesting responses. The majority did not use CAD/CAM technology, and the main barriers were initial cost and a lack of perceived advantage over conventional methods.

Thirty per cent of the respondents reported being concerned about the quality of the chairside CAD/CAM restorations. This is a valid point. We must not let ourselves lose focus that our aim should always be to provide the best level of dentistry possible. For me, digital dentistry is not about a quick fix; it is about raising our performance and improving predictability levels by reducing human error.

In the survey, 89 per cent also said they believed CAD/CAM technology had a major role to play in the future of dentistry. I really cannot imagine that once a dentist has begun using digital processes that he or she would revert to conventional techniques.

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What is digital implant dentistry?

Many implant clinicians have probably been using CAD/CAM workflows without even realising it, as many laboratories were early adopters, substituting the lost-wax technique and the expense of gold for fully customised cobalt–chromium milled abutments (Fig. 1).

One of my most important goals in seeking to be a successful implantologist is to provide a dental implant solution that is durable. We have seen a massive rise in the incident of peri-implantitis and have found that a large proportion of these cases can be attributed to cement inclusion from poorly designed cement-retained restorations (Fig. 2). Even well designed fully customised abutments and crowns can have cement inclusion if the restoration is not carefully fitted (Fig. 3). This has led to a massive rise in retrievability of implant restorations, with screw-retained crowns and bridges now being the goal. However, making screw-retained prostheses places even greater emphasis on treatment planning and correct implant angulation.

With laboratories as early adopters, we have been milling titanium or zirconia customised abutments for over ten years (Fig. 4). What has changed recently in the digital revolution is the rise of the intraoral scanner. We now have a workflow in which we can take a preoperative intraoral scan and combine this with a CT scan using coDiagnostiX (Dental Wings) in order to plan an implant placement accurately and safely. We can also create a surgical guide to aid in accurate implant placement, have a temporary crown prefabricated for the planned implant position and then take a final scan of the precise implant position for the final prosthesis.

Accuracy of intraoral scanners

Figures 4 to13 show the workflow for preoperative scanning, which includes the implant design, guide fabrication and surgical placement of two fixtures. Intraoral scanners have improved over the last few years, and their accuracy and speed provide a viable alternative to conventional impression taking. The digital scan image comes up in real time and you can evaluate your preparation and quality of the scan on the screen immediately. Seeing the preparation blown up in size no doubt improves the technical quality of your tooth preparations. The scan can then be sent directly to the laboratory for processing.

While we do not think of intraoral scanners as being any more accurate than good-quality conventional impressions, there are many benefits of scanning, such as no more postage to be paid for impressions, vastly reduced cost of impression materials, almost zero re-impression rates and absolute predictability.

Of course, there are steep learning curves with the techniques, but once a clinician has learnt the workflow, there really is no looking back.

We have three different scanners in the practice: the iTero (Align Technology), the CEREC Omnicam (Dentsply Sirona) and the Straumann CARES Intraoral Scanner (Dental Wings; Fig. 14). The CEREC Omnicam is fantastic for simple chairside CAD/CAM restorations, such as IPS e.max all-ceramic restorations on Variobase abutments. For truly aesthetic results, we, of course, still have a very close working relationship with our laboratory, but, undoubtedly, patients love the option of restoration in a day. Being able to scan an implant abutment and then an hour later (to allow for staining and glazing) fitting the definitive restoration is a game changer. Patients also love watching the production process as they see their tooth being milled from an IPS e.max block.

Figures 15–19 show the production process, including the exposure of the implant, the abutment seating, the scan flag on top of the abutment, the healing abutment during fabrication and the delivery of the final prosthesis. However, for more than single units or aesthetic single-unit cases, we use the iTero and Straumann scanners. The latter we have only had at our disposal since February. While it is a powdered system at the moment, this is due to change this month. Particularly with implant restorations, the need to apply a scanning powder is a limitation, owing to a lack of moisture control contaminating the powder. The technology, however, is superb, as is the openness of the system, which provides the advantage of being able to export files into planning software. A colleague of mine even uses it for his orthodontic cases now instead of wet impressions.

We invested in the iTero scanner five years ago and have used it for everything, from simple conventional crowns and bridges to scanning for full-mouth rehabilitations. When fabricating definitive bridgework, we use Createch Medical frameworks for screw-retained CAD/CAM-milled titanium and cobalt–chromium frameworks. Even though intraoral scanning appears extremely reproducible and accurate, I still use verification jigs where needed to ensure our frameworks are as accurate as possible. There are many intricacies that we consider and tips and techniques that we employ to make the scans more accurate that we have developed over time. The closer the scanbodies are together, the more accurate the scan is. Also, the more anatomical detail, such as palatal rugae or mucosal folds, the better the scans can be stitched together.

Figure 20 shows a CBCT volume to aid in planning for mandibular implant placement (Fig. 21) and realising the implant placement. We exposed the fixtures and placed Straumann Mono Scanbodies (Fig. 22). Then, we took an iTero scan of the fixtures in situ (Fig. 23) and made a verification jig from this (Fig. 24) to ensure passive implant positioning. The iTero models were made (Fig. 25) and a Createch titanium framework was used to support porcelain in a screw-retained design (Fig. 26). The last two figures show the excellent outcome and accurate framework seating (Figs. 27 & 28).

Choosing your workflow

There are many different systems on the market now, each offering a one-stop shop. If you are considering investing in a digital scanner, then take some advice from colleagues. One of the most important things is to ensure the system you opt for is an open one that allows you to extract the digital impression data into different software. We extract our files into CT planning software, model production software, chairside milling for stents, temporaries and definitive restorations, and now orthodontic planning software. I am convinced there will be yet more advances with time. The size of the camera is critical—some can be very cumbersome—and it is worth asking the salesperson what developments are underway.

Some companies are more on the cutting edge than others. My favourite at the moment is the Straumann scanner. Its design is light and user-friendly and it synchronises perfectly with implant planning software coDiagnostiX. Furthermore, while it offers a chairside milling unit, it also synchronises perfectly with my laboratory for larger cases.

To conclude, digital implant dentistry is the future and so why not take advantage of it and help improve your clinical outcomes?

Editorial note: A list of references is available from the publisher. This article was published in CAD/CAM - international magazine of digital dentistry No. 03/2017.

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A recently published review has explored strategies for integrating artificial intelligence into higher education at large and dental education in particular. (Image: Deemerwha studio/Adobe Stock)
Dental Tribune International

Dental Tribune International

Thu. 30. July 2026

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AJMAN, UAE: Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping dental education by changing how students learn, educators teach and institutions prepare graduates for modern clinical practice. A narrative review led by researchers at Ajman University has examined the strategies needed to integrate AI into health professions education, giving particular attention to dental education and has made recommendations for institutional readiness, including faculty development and ethical governance, to support the implementation of AI.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in dentistry, dental schools face growing pressure to equip future graduates with the knowledge and skills required to use AI safely and effectively. The review synthesises evidence published between 2015 and 2025 to examine how AI can be successfully incorporated into dental education while maintaining educational quality, professionalism and patient care.

The review highlights AI’s expanding role in dental education, such as in personalised learning, intelligent tutoring systems, automated feedback, virtual patients and simulation-based training. According to the review, these technologies can enable students to strengthen their abilities in diagnostic reasoning, treatment planning and clinical decision-making in a safe environment before treating patients. AI-powered simulations and adaptive learning platforms can also provide personalised feedback, helping students identify gaps in their knowledge and improve their clinical competence.

To realise these potential benefits, the review highlights the importance of faculty development. The authors emphasise that successful AI integration depends on educators’ understanding of both the capabilities and limitations of AI technologies. The authors emphasise the need for ongoing professional development among dental educators, including through workshops and micro-credentials—short courses or training modules focused on specific skills—to build AI literacy, relevant digital skills and confidence in using AI in teaching, assessment and curriculum design.

The review also stresses the importance of institutional readiness. The authors argue that dental schools should develop clear governance frameworks, ethical guidelines and academic integrity policies to support the responsible use of AI. They also identify investment in digital infrastructure, simulation facilities and secure data management systems as important to the effective implementation of AI technologies in dental education.

Beyond institutional readiness, the review discusses challenges surrounding algorithmic bias, data privacy, unequal access to technology and the potential for over-reliance on AI. The concern about over-reliance is consistent with a recent systematic review which found that generative AI supports personalised and self-directed learning in health professions education, but cautions that over-dependence may hinder the development of critical thinking and independent learning skills. These issues reinforce the need for ethical governance, transparent policies and human oversight to ensure that AI is implemented responsibly within dental education.

Importantly, the review recommends that assessments should ensure that students’ critical thinking and clinical judgement are not compromised when they use AI tools. The authors conclude that human oversight and professional judgement should remain central to higher education.

Overall, the review concludes that the successful integration of AI into dental education requires collaboration between educators, clinicians, institutional leaders and policymakers. By investing in faculty development, curriculum reform and robust governance, dental schools can prepare graduates to deliver safe, ethical and patient-centred dental care while using AI critically and responsibly.

The paper, titled “Faculty development and institutional readiness for incorporating AI in health professions education—a narrative review”, was published online on 22 July 2026 in Frontiers in Dental Medicine.

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Artificial intelligence Dental education Dental research Dental students
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