Preface to the First Edition

Abstract

These are exciting times in dentistry. Advanced digital technology is changing what is possible in oral health, function, and beauty. Prosthodontists incorporating digital solutions into their practices are finding significantly improved workflow efficiency and ease of collaboration with laboratories. Patients treated with digital solutions are benefitting from the combination of efficient processes, accurate high-strength materials, and beautiful esthetics. However, technology alone does not determine the quality of care. Instead, talented and trained practitioners applying their expertise to design and control the outcome are paramount. The quality of our tools will never substitute for the quality of our training. Practitioners must be prepared to identify the best plan––and technology––for each patient's specific situation and needs. Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing technology was introduced to dentistry decades ago, but only a small minority of dental practices use this technology. A 2014 survey of prosthodontic program directors by the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) indicated that the underlying cause of the slow adoption of digital dentistry may not be the technology itself or its ability to deliver better patient care, but rather a relative lack of available education and training about its applications and benefits among clinicians. As the organization that represents the specialty of prosthodontics, the ACP is working to ensure that prosthodontists are prepared to lead the emergence of digital dentistry in clinical practice. The Glossary of Digital Dental Terms is intended to provide a convenient reference for the many devices, file formats, and concepts involved in the use of digital technology in dentistry. With the benefit of a common vocabulary, practitioners can communicate more effectively with suppliers, dental laboratories, and each other. With the support of an educational grant from Henry Schein, the College is also engaged in development of a groundbreaking new curriculum that will incorporate advanced digital technology into dental education. We are at a critical juncture in the evolution of digital dental technology, and prosthodontists and trained practitioners have an opportunity to help guide what happens next. Together, these efforts will lay the foundation for the way dentistry is practiced for many years to come. On behalf of the College, I would like to thank the members of the ACP Digital Dentistry Glossary Development Task Force for their work on this first edition, including Dr. Gerald T. Grant, chair, with Dr. Michael R. Andersen, Dr. Peter R. Barndt, Dr. Stephen D. Campbell, Dr. Radi Masri, and Dr. Naif Sinada. Contributions to the text were also made by Scott Keating, Gene Peterson, and Tim Thompson of AvaDent; Dr. George W. Tysowsky of Ivoclar Vivadent; and Mark Heiden of the American College of Prosthodontists. Special recognition is due to Henry Schein for its vision and support of these efforts to advance the use of digital dental technology. This first edition was made possible in part from an unrestricted educational grant from Henry Schein.