Dental Laboratory Technicians Research Articles

STUDY OF THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HAND DISINFECTION AND THE APPLICATION OF ROUTINE DISINFECTION MEASURES AMONG DENTAL TECHNICIANS

Purpose: To study the level of knowledge about hand disinfection and the application of routine disinfection measures in everyday practice among dental technician students from the Medical College of Plovdiv and practicing dental technicians. Material and methods: For the period September 2019 - January 2020, an anonymous 19-question survey was conducted among a total of 92 dental technicians. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 24. A p-value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the respondents, 34.8% (n = 30) were students, and 65.2% (n = 62) were practicing dental technicians. The majority (77.2% (n = 71)) rate the hands as a factor for the transmission of microorganisms from person to person, but for 16.3% (n = 15), the hands pose a risk only if they are visibly contaminated. Only 31.5% (n = 29) disinfect their hands for the recomended 30 seconds. When working with dental impressions and dentures, 59.8% (n = 55) know that they must always be disinfected before working with them. The most commonly used preparations for disinfection of impressions are alcohols in 44.6% (n = 41), but 22.8% (n = 21) wrongly only use water and soap. Only 1/3 correctly state that the finished dentures should be disinfected before being handed to the dentist. Conclusion: Effective communication and coordination between the dental laboratory technicians and the dental office staff are critical components of a successful infection control program related to dental care

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental health professionals toward dental impression disinfection protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia– a cross-sectional study

BackgroundDespite the updated guidelines on dental impression disinfection protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, adherence to such procedures has not been studied among dental health professionals in Saudi Arabia. Understanding DHPs’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 is crucial in assessing a willingness to adhere to the recommendations provided by health authorities in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 via dental impressions impacting patient safety and infection control measures. Hence, this study aimed to assess dental health professionals’ (DHPs) knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward dental impression disinfection protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted from 14 December 2022 to 21 March 2023 among practicing dentists, dental assistants (DA), dental laboratory technicians (DT), and dental hygienists in Saudi Arabia. A validated and reliable questionnaire that consisted of 38 items along with demographic variables was prepared to collect the data. Using Google Forms, a questionnaire link was prepared and shared on the social media platforms of DHPs in Saudi Arabia. A descriptive analysis was conducted to report the percentages and frequencies. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were analyzed using an Independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation tests.ResultsA total of 718 DHPs voluntarily participated in the survey. Most of the DHPs exhibited average knowledge 392 (54.6%), neutral attitudes 393(54.7%), and adequate 549 (76.5%) practice towards dental impression disinfection protocol. The mean knowledge score differed significantly across nationality (p = 0.013), type of DHPs (p < 0.001), qualification (p = 0.045), and experience (p = 0.028) of the study participants. Significant differences in attitude towards impression disinfection were observed in different age groups (p = 0.002), qualifications (p = 0.015), and experiences (p = 0.024) of the DHPs. Similarly, practice varied across different age groups (p = 0.010), nationality (p = 0.013), type of DHPs (p = 0.019), qualification (p = 0.044), experience (p = 0.041), and COVID-19 Infection (p = 0.006). Moreover, a significant positive correlation between knowledge-attitude (r = 0.258, p < 0.01), knowledge-practice (r = 0.283, p < 0.01), and attitude-practice (r = 0.196, p < 0.01) was observed.ConclusionDHPs considered in this study demonstrated average knowledge and attitudes toward impression disinfection, requiring improvement through continuous dental education and training. However, they displayed acceptable dental impression disinfection practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is highly recommended that continuing education programs should mainly reinforce the knowledge of sodium hypochlorite, iodophor, and phenolics and their concentrations to be used as an impression disinfectant. Additionally, it should focus on techniques of disinfecting elastomeric, hydrocolloid, zinc oxide and eugenol, and impression compound materials to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 based on Saudi ministry of health guidelines.

Use of a dual-purpose implant scan body to obtain both digital and analog records for complete arch fixed implant restorations

A technique is described for capturing relative dental implant positions for an implant-supported fixed prosthesis in a completely edentulous arch with a novel implant indexing apparatus that also functions as a scannable verification device. A series of intraoral scans are made to record the contours and occlusal records of the existing prosthetics and soft tissue. The individual scans are aligned by using a dental software program to design either an interim or definitive prosthesis. The technique reduces the time needed to gather the records dental laboratory technicians require to fabricate a complete arch implant-supported prosthesis.

Deep learning-based automated detection of the dental crown finish line: An accuracy study

Statement of problemThe marginal fit of dental prostheses is a clinically significant issue, and dental computer-aided design software programs use automated methods to expedite the extraction of finish lines. The accuracy of these automated methods should be evaluated. PurposeThe purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of a new hybrid method with existing software programs that extract finish lines using fully automated and semiautomated methods. Material and methodsA total of 182 jaw scans containing at least 1 natural tooth abutment were collected and divided into 2 groups depending on how the digital data were created. Group DS used desktop scanners to scan casts trimmed for improved finish line visibility, while Group IS used intraoral scans. The method from Dentbird was compared using 3 software packages from 3Shape, exocad, and MEDIT. The Hausdorff and Chamfer distances were used in this study. Three dental laboratory technicians experienced in the digital workflow evaluated clinical finish line acceptance and its Hausdorff and Chamfer distances. For statistical analysis, t tests were performed after the outliers had been removed using the Tukey interquartile range method (α=.05). ResultsOutliers identified by using the Tukey interquartile range method were more numerous in the semiautomatic methods than in the automatic methods. When considering data without outliers, the software performance was found to be similar for desktop scans of the trimmed casts. However, the method from Dentbird demonstrated statistically better results (P<.05) for the posterior tooth with finish lines in concave regions than the 3Shape, exocad, and MEDIT software programs. Furthermore, thresholds coherent with clinical acceptance were determined for the Hausdorff and Chamfer distances. The Hausdorff distance threshold was 0.366 mm for desktop scans and 0.566 mm for intraoral scans. For the Chamfer distance, the threshold was 0.026 for desktop scans and 0.100 for intraoral scans. ConclusionsThe method from Dentbird demonstrated a comparable or better performance than the other software solutions, particularly excelling in finish line extraction for intraoral scans. Using a hybrid method combining deep learning and computer-aided design approaches enables the robust and accurate extraction of finish lines.

Dental Technicians' Perception of the Quality of Dentists' Communication on the Fabrication of Removable Partial Dentures: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.

Effective and clear communication between the dentist and dental technician plays a vital role in rendering quality prostheses for patients. When fabricating a removable dental prosthesis, it is uncertain if the information received by the dental laboratory technician is clear and sufficient. This investigation aimed to assess dental technicians' perceptions of the quality of dentists' communication on the fabrication of removable partial dentures (RPDs) in Saudi Arabia. After obtaining the institutional review board (IRB) approval from Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a cross-sectional survey on a convenient sample of 115 dental technicians registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties was conducted in January 2022. The voluntary participation of 94 technicians fabricating RPDs was included. A 19-item online questionnaire was developed, including quality of written instruction, selection of impression trays, and impression materials for RPD fabrication, shared through Google Docs. Descriptive statistics were tabulated, and responses were displayed as a percentage of the total. Of the 94 study subjects, 35% had less than five years of experience, 44% stated that they routinely receive work authorizations with clear instructions, 13% always used digital technology to fabricate prostheses, and 58% reported difficulty with communicated work authorization by dentists having less than five years of experience. Thirty-three respondents (35.1%) reported that 75% or more of the fabricated partial dentures were cast framework partials. Thirty-three respondents (35.1%) indicated that the master casts received for partial framework construction were usually accurate. Tooth alterations, however, were reported as usually adequate by only 28 respondents (29.8%). For creating the artificial gingiva portion of cast partials, 56 respondents (59.6%) preferred heat-cured acrylic resin. Furthermore, 40 respondents (42.6%) said that 75% or more of the requested partials were entirely made out of acrylic resin. Regarding case design discussions, 26 respondents (27.7%) always engaged with dentists, while 39 (41.5%) did so occasionally. The obtained assessments pointed to the fact that dental technicians expressed a perception of inadequacy regarding the work authorizations provided by dentists for the fabrication of RPDs, where they seemingly felt that the instructions conveyed by the dentists were not sufficiently comprehensive or clear.

Which metal surface treatment improves the bond strength between metal alloys and acrylic resin in removable partial dentures? A systematic review.

The union of the metal removable partial denture framework to the heat polymerized acrylic resin is related to prosthesis longevity. However, methods to enhance this bond are not clear to clinicians and dental laboratory technicians. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify which metal surface treatments best increase the bond strength between heat polymerized acrylic resin and removable partial denture alloys. This review was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered in the International Prospective Registry of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42022384926). Electronic searches were carried out independently, by 3 examiners in Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, and in the nonpeer-reviewed literature via ProQuest. The electronic searches resulted in 4143 articles, with 4055 after removing duplicates. After reading the titles and abstracts, 37 articles were selected for reading in full-text version, from which 6 articles were included. All studies evaluated materials for conventional acrylic resin denture base (heat polymerized), processed by water bath, bonded to metal. For the metal framework alloys, cobalt chromium (Co-Cr) alloys were used in 2 studies, titanium (Ti) in 2 studies, and Co-Cr and Ti in the other 2 studies. Different metal surface treatments were used as airborne-particle abrasion with aluminum oxide (particle sizes of 50µm, 110µm, and 250µm) followed by the primer application and the isolated use of the primer, compared to the absence of isolated intervention or airborne-particle abrasion of the metal surface. Among the different primers used, those based on 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (10-MDP) showed the highest acrylic resin-to-metal bond strength values. Airborne-particle abrading the metal with Al2O3 followed by applying a 10-MDP-based primer, increased the bond strength between metal framework alloys and heat polymerized acrylic resin denture base material.

Fabrication of facially guided CAD-CAM complete dentures: A dental technique

An alternative protocol is presented to design computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) complete dentures and overdentures using a facially guided digital design. The facially guided design protocol with CAD-CAM facilitated communication between the clinician and dental laboratory technician. A monolithic denture and overdenture were fabricated guided by preliminary dentures with 3-dimensionally (3D) printed denture bases and milled wax teeth.

Discrepancies in the occlusal devices designed by an experienced dental laboratory technician and by 2 artificial intelligence-based automatic programs

Artificial intelligence (AI) models have been developed for different applications, including the automatic design of occlusal devices; however, the design discrepancies of an experienced dental laboratory technician and these AI automatic programs remain unknown. The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the overall, intaglio, and occlusal surface discrepancies of the occlusal device designs completed by an experienced dental laboratory technician and two AI automatic design programs. Virtually articulated maxillary and mandibular diagnostic casts were obtained in a standard tessellation language (STL) file format. Three groups were created depending on the operator or program used to design the occlusal devices: an experienced dental laboratory technician (control group) and two AI programs, namely Medit Splints from Medit (Medit group) and Automate from 3Shape A/S (3Shape group) (n=10). To minimize the discrepancies in the parameter designs among the groups tested, the same printing material and design parameters were selected. In the control group, the dental laboratory technician imported the articulated scans into a dental design program (DentalCAD) and designed a maxillary occlusal device. The occlusal device designs were exported in STL format. In the Medit and 3Shape groups, the diagnostic casts were imported into the respective AI programs. The AI programs automatically designed the occlusal device without any further operator intervention. The occlusal device designs were exported in STL format. Among the 10 occlusal designs of the control group, a random design (shuffle deck of cards) was used as a reference file to calculate the overall, intaglio, and occlusal discrepancies in the specimens of the AI groups by using a program (Medit Design). The root mean square (RMS) error was calculated. Kruskal-Wallis, and post hoc Dwass-Steel-Critchlow-Fligner pairwise comparison tests were used to analyze the trueness of the data. The Levene test was used to assess the precision data (α=.05). Significant overall (P<.001), intaglio (P<.001), and occlusal RMS median value (P<.001) discrepancies were found among the groups. Significant overall RMS median discrepancies were observed between the control and the Medit groups (P<.001) and the control and 3Shape groups (P<.001). Additionally, significant intaglio RMS median discrepancies were found between the control and the Medit groups (P<.001), the Medit and 3Shape groups (P<.001), and the control and 3Shape groups (P=.008). Lastly, significant occlusal RMS median discrepancies were found between the control and the 3Shape groups (P<.001) and the Medit and 3Shape groups (P<.001). The AI-based software programs tested were able to automatically design occlusal devices with less than a 100-µm trueness discrepancy compared with the dental laboratory technician. The Levene test revealed significant overall (P<.001), intaglio (P<.001), and occlusal (P<.001) precision among the groups tested. The use of a dental laboratory technique influenced the overall, intaglio, and occlusal trueness of the occlusal device designs obtained. No differences were observed in the precision of occlusal device designs acquired among the groups tested.

Digitally designed occlusion of an implant-supported crown considering physiological tooth displacement under occlusal loading

Physiological natural tooth displacement under occlusal loading can influence intraoral occlusal contacts. However, gypsum casts and digital scans cannot simulate the physiological tooth displacement under occlusal loading. The occlusal design of the implant-supported crowns has been based mainly on the experience of dental laboratory technicians, lacking accuracy and individualization. Therefore, a digital technique that considers physiological tooth displacement is presented to design the occlusion of implant-supported single crowns.

Interrelationship between dental clinicians and laboratory technicians: a qualitative study

BackgroundEffective communication among members of the dental team is essential for the delivery of high-quality dental care. However, an in-depth understanding of issues concerning the interrelationship between dental clinicians and laboratory technicians has not been previously undertaken. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore factors influencing the interrelationship between dental clinicians and laboratory technicians.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with dental clinicians and laboratory technicians using purposeful snowball sampling. Two trained researchers conducted the interviews based on a pre-piloted topic guide. The interviews were conducted via video conferencing platform, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Field notes were taken during the interviews. Framework Methodology was used to analyze the data.ResultsA total of 20 dental clinicians and laboratory technicians were interviewed. The average interview duration was 37 min. Participants mainly reported negative encounters and highlighted the importance of training and exposure, collaborative learning, and alignment of expectations of both parties in terms of cost of laboratory work, turnaround time, and patient preferences. The relationship between dental clinicians and laboratory technicians depends largely on effective teamwork dynamics and open communication channels. Increased workload, workforce shortage, availability of digital systems, management policies, and financial challenges were emphasized as organizational factors affecting the interrelationship between both groups. Participants highlighted the importance of shadowing, mentorship, education courses, joint discussions, patient-technician rapport, and adoption of digital technology for fostering collaborative practices between the professions.ConclusionsA multitude of factors influencing the dental clinician-laboratory interrelationship at individual, interpersonal and organizational levels were identified. This study highlights the need to build a transformative relationship underpinned by mutual trust and respect. Such a collaborative relationship will facilitate optimal patient care and successful treatment outcomes. The outcome of this study can help stakeholders identify solutions for enhancing the interrelationship among the dental team, to ultimately improve patient care and efficiency of dental services.

Effect of analysis software program on measured deviations in complete arch, implant-supported framework scans

Implementation of fabrication trueness analysis by using a recently introduced nonmetrology-grade freeware program may help clinicians and dental laboratory technicians in their routine practice. However, knowledge of the performance of this freeware program when compared with the International Organization for Standardization recommended metrology-grade analysis software program is limited. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of an analysis software program on measured deviations in the complete arch, implant-supported framework scans. A total of 20 complete arch, implant-supported frameworks were fabricated from a master standard tessellation language (STL) file from either polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or titanium (Ti) (n=10). All frameworks were then digitized by using different scanners to generate test STLs. All STL files were imported into a nonmetrology-grade freeware program (Medit Link) and a metrology-grade software program (Geomagic Control X) to measure the overall and marginal deviations of frameworks from the master STL file by using the root mean square (RMS) method. Data were analyzed by using the two 1-sided paired t test procedure, in which 50µm was considered as the minimal clinically meaningful difference (α=.05). When overall RMS values were considered, the nonmetrology-grade freeware program was not inferior to the metrology-grade software program (P<.05). When marginal RMS values were considered, the nonmetrology-grade freeware program was inferior to the metrology-grade software program only when PEEK frameworks were scanned with an E4 laboratory scanner (P>.05). The use of the tested nonmetrology-grade freeware program resulted in overall deviation measurements similar to those when a metrology-grade software program was used. The freeware program was inferior when marginal deviations were analyzed on E4 scans of a PEEK framework, which was the only scanner-material pair that led to a significant difference, among the 15 pairs tested.

Assessment of knowledge, awareness and practices toward the use of 3D printing among dental laboratory technicians in Karnataka, India: A cross-sectional study.

From November 2021 to January 2022, a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was done among dental laboratory technicians in India. Dental technicians were given access to a self-explanatory questionnaire via Google forms link consisting of 12 questions that evaluated their knowledge, awareness and practices regarding 3D printing. The CHERRIES protocol for presenting the findings of the survey was followed. Chi-square test and independent t-test was used for statistical analysis by SPSS version 20.0. A total of 191 responses were obtained after the questionnaire was circulated to 220 technicians. 171 dental technicians (89.53%) were acquainted of the usage of 3D printing in dentistry.169 (88.48%) Dental technicians preferred 3D printing to traditional procedures. Majority of dental technicians indicated they want to include the 3D printing into their regular work practices and believe digital technology will enhance our profession. The level of awareness of digital dentistry and 3D printing among the participants is acceptable. Dental technicians at private laboratory showed better understanding about 3D printing as compared to technicians working at dental colleges nevertheless, dental education programmes, webinars and hands-on training should be undertaken that will enhance their expertise of 3D printing.

Defining challenging areas of the preparation finish line by using an open-source 3D modeling computer program: A tip to simplify margin identification by the dental laboratory technician

Intraoral data acquisition and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) systems have simplified and expedited the fabrication of dental prostheses. 1 Van Noort R. The future of dental devices is digital. Dent Mater. 2012; 28: 3-12 Crossref PubMed Scopus (801) Google Scholar ,2 Giuliodori G. Rappelli G. Aquilanti L. Intraoral scans of full dental arches: an in vitro measurement study of the accuracy of different intraoral scanners. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20: 4776 Crossref Scopus (0) Google Scholar Contemporary dental CAD-CAM provides the freedom to design and fabricate diverse dental devices, including custom impression trays, surgical templates, and removable and fixed dental prostheses. 1 Van Noort R. The future of dental devices is digital. Dent Mater. 2012; 28: 3-12 Crossref PubMed Scopus (801) Google Scholar ,3 Revilla-León M. Özcan M. Additive manufacturing technologies used for processing polymers: current status and potential application in prosthetic dentistry. J Prosthodont. 2019; 28: 146-158 Crossref PubMed Scopus (217) Google Scholar ,4 Turkyilmaz I. Wilkins G.N. Varvara G. Tooth preparation, digital design and milling process considerations for CAD/CAM crowns: understanding the transition from analog to digital workflow. J Dent Sci. 2021; 16: 1312-1314 Crossref Scopus (8) Google Scholar These dental appliances are created from a digital file that recreates the surface geometry of the target object, typically a standard tessellation language (STL) file. 5 Grant G.T. Campbell S.D. Masri R.M. Andersen M.R. The American college of prosthodontist digital dentistry glossary development task force. Glossary of digital terms. J Prosthodont. 2016; 25: S2-S9 Crossref PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar A prerequisite for accurate manufacture is the exact capture and identification of the fine details in the target intraoral structures. An accurate capture can be challenging when the preparation finish line is subgingival, when abundant bleeding or salivation occurs, or when operator scanning skills and speed are still developing. 6 Mangano F. Gandolfi A. Luongo G. Logozzo S. Intraoral scanners in dentistry: a review of the current literature. BMC Oral Health. 2017; 17: 149 Crossref PubMed Scopus (308) Google Scholar Additionally, the location of fine details can be challenging for the dental laboratory technician to visualize when the CAD file is outsourced for the manufacture of the definitive restoration, since STL files lack attributes such as color and texture. 5 Grant G.T. Campbell S.D. Masri R.M. Andersen M.R. The American college of prosthodontist digital dentistry glossary development task force. Glossary of digital terms. J Prosthodont. 2016; 25: S2-S9 Crossref PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar These features help differentiate the tooth from its surrounding tissues when finish lines are subgingival or when displacement is limited. The present article presents a straightforward workflow that defines challenging areas of the preparation finish line by using an open-source 3D modeling computer program. This procedure can be used to communicate the finish line observed to the dental laboratory technician when STL files are used to design the definitive restoration and stops the technician guessing the finish line, since the hard-to-see areas are defined by the clinician. Additionally, this approach has advantages over the margin tracing and sculpting tools available in most 3-dimensional (3D) CAD computer programs since it allows selecting the critical areas around the finish line considering the mesh geometry of the 3D file. Visualizing the 3D mesh permits a more precise selection, which can minimize distortion as even the smallest changes in the mesh surface can be observed if transformation or sculpting procedures are used.

Assessing Clinical Communication for Fixed Prosthodontics Construction between Dental Laboratories and Dentists

Objective. This study aimed to estimate the communication between dental practitioners and dental technicians, through fixed prosthodontics from a dental laboratory technician's point of view, study the weak points, and try to offer them. Methods. In Tripoli, a randomized sample of private dental laboratories was chosen. A hundred and fifty questionnaires were distributed, and 130 were received (response rate=87%). A part of the questionnaires was mailed to the laboratory directors of dental laboratories and others were distributed to the dental technicians personally (face to face). The survey asked questions about the following areas of work authorization: Academic certificate, Years of work as a dental clinician, choice of materials for the prosthesis, design of the fixed prosthesis, and shade description. The use of impression materials for fixed prosthodontics was part of the questionnaire. For each question, the number of responses received was tabulated and converted to a percentage. Data were collected and analyzed statistically with (SPSS) version 25 software and Pearson’s Chi-square test p value &lt; 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results. The findings showed that the telephone 42.9% and written dental prescription 24.2% are the main communication tools. The technician is more likely to choose fixed prosthesis design alone when conversing with doctors verbally or via email, while they sometimes choose it when sending them written prescriptions. Therefore, the best form of cooperation would be a written prescription. 84.6% of dental technicians received impressions in a non-disinfected state. The plastic stock tray was the most common choice of impression tray (75.4%). The minority of dental technicians 19.7% are discussing pontics design with the dentist. Conclusion. According to Tripoli dental technicians, good quality communication between both dental technologists and dentists is not always present. The connection between these two dental offices still needs work.

Digital versus conventional prosthetic workflow for dental students providing implant-supported single crowns: A randomized crossover study

Statement of problemDigital scanning has become popular and has been reported to be more comfortable for patients and equally or more accurate than conventional impression techniques. However, clinical evidence to support the advantages of digital scanning is sparse. PurposeThe purpose of this randomized crossover study was to examine and compare the patient and provider perceptions of digital scanning and conventional impression making for implant-supported single crowns (ISSCs) provided by dental students under supervision. Furthermore, the quality and patient-reported outcome of the definitive restorations were compared. Material and methodsForty participants in need of a single tooth replacement were enrolled. Three months after initial implant placement, recordings were made for implant-supported crowns. The participants were randomized into a conventional or a digital group but underwent both procedures. Only the designated impression or scan was sent to the dental laboratory technician to be processed. All participants and students were asked questions concerning which technique they preferred. Furthermore, the participants filled out an oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire before and after treatment. The restorations’ esthetic and technical quality was evaluated using the Copenhagen Index Score (CIS). ResultsThe participants preferred the digital technique (80%) over the conventional technique (2%), while 18% of the participants had no preference. The participants were bothered significantly more (P<.001), experienced significantly more shortness of breath (P<.001), and were significantly more anxious during the conventional impression than during the digital scan (P<.001). Most students also preferred the digital technique (65%) over the conventional technique (22%), and 13% had no preference. The students found that the conventional impression procedure was less time-consuming but more uncertain in comparison with the digital technique. The digital technique was perceived as significantly more impractical than the conventional technique (P<.05). The results from CIS showed no significant difference in the quality of the restorations. Following treatment, the OHIP-14 scores showed a significant drop, suggesting an increase in oral health-related quality of life (P<.001). ConclusionsThe perceptions of the participants and students of the digital intraoral scanning were significantly better than those of the conventional technique. No significant differences in the quality of the restorations or OHIP scores were observed using the two recording techniques.

Face oriented digital workflow for transferring intraoral and extraoral data of edentulous arch rehabilitated with multiple implants: A clinical technique

A modified scan body system is described to preserve the occlusal vertical dimension and obtain intraoral and extraoral records to transfer to the dental laboratory technician for a complete arch fixed implant-supported prosthesis. This technique helps to effectively manage the orientation and articulation of the maxillary implants for 3-dimensional smile design.

Evaluation of burnout and stress perception levels of Turkish dental laboratory technicians according to affecting factors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused healthcare professionals to face unequal acute workplace stress and burnout. This study aimed to analyze the potential impact of COVID-19 on the burnout and associated emotional stress conditions of Turkish dental technicians. Methods A 20-question demographic scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Sense of Coherence-13 (SoC-13), and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) were used to obtain data. A total of 152 participants answered these surveys directly and reported their stress burnout levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Of all participants who agreed to participate in the survey, 39.5% were females and 60.5% were males. Regardless of demographic variables, the MBI-total (37.2 ± 11.71), SoC-13 total (53.81 ± 10.29), and PSS-10 total (21.25 ± 5.5) scores indicated moderate burnout, SoC, and perceived stress levels. According to sub-scores of the MBI; mean emotional exhaustion and depersonalization indicate low-level burnout, and mean personal accomplishment indicates moderate burnout. Long working hours increase burnout. No significant differences were observed according to demographic variables, except for work experience. A positive correlation was found between perceived stress and burnout. Conclusions The findings showed that dental technicians working during the COVID-19 pandemic are influenced by emotional stress due to the outcomes of the pandemic. One reason for this situation might be the long working hours. Working arrangements, under-controlled disease risk factors, and lifestyle changes may improve stress levels. Key Messages COVID-19 outbreak exposed psychological returns to the general population, and especially to healthcare workers. Questionnaire method was applied to evaluate the burnout and stress levels among dental laboratory technicians during COVID-19 outbreak. Moderate levels of burnout and stress perception were detected. Long working time was one of the effective factors.

A completely digital workflow to fabricate a double-layered template for anterior esthetic veneers

In the esthetic restoration of anterior teeth, trial restorations are an efficient way of communicating among patients, doctors, and dental laboratory technicians. Although the development of digital technologies has made it popular to design digital diagnostic waxing in a software program, problems such as the polymerization inhibition of silicone materials and time-consuming trimming remain. The silicone mold based on a 3-dimensionally printed resin cast still has to be transferred to the digital diagnostic waxing and to the patient’s mouth to generate a trial restoration. A digital workflow is proposed to fabricate a double-layer guide to reproduce the digital diagnostic waxing in the patient’s mouth. This technique is suitable for esthetic restorations of anterior teeth.

A smartphone application with a gray card for clinical shade selection: A technique

Shade selection is an inherently complex procedure, and its accurate reproduction in the definitive restoration involves an in-depth understanding of color science and its effective communication with the dental laboratory technician. A technique is presented that uses a smartphone application (Snapseed; Google LLC) and a gray card for clinical shade selection.

Digital Smile Design- An Overview of 3D Digital Workflow

Smile designing is a branch of cosmetic dental procedure that corrects imperfections of the teeth and restores dental health and appearance of the person. Today Digital Smile Design (DSD) is changing the future of dental practice worldwide. It’s a unique approach to modern dentistry is revolutionising smile designing clinics worldwide. DSD is a software which used worldwide, is based on specific photographs and software analysis. DSD is a tool (software) that helps in easy communication and discussion between all the smile designers, dental laboratory technician as well as with patients. DSD especially can be used in a multidisciplinary approach and hence not only used in prosthetic rehabilitation but also used in other branches of dentistry like Orthodontic, Periodontics, etc., The concept of smile designing is not new. The need of aesthetic can be traced from the earliest civilisations of both the Phoenicians (about 800 BC) and Etruscians (about 900 BC). They used to carve animal tusks to simulate the shape, form and hue of natural teeth. Pierre Fauchard (1678-1761) from of France, together with several colleagues modernised and promoted dentistry and also started aesthetic practices. There are many parameters such as dentofacial parameter, gingival parameter, ease of use, documentation ability, cost, time required, systematic digital workflow and organisation, and compatibility of the program with Computer-aided design/Computer-aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) or other parameters that may affect the user’s decision. DSD helps both clinician and patient to improve treatment planning and stimulate the final results of the treatment. There are many software available, and the clinicians can use any of the software according to their needs. Some software can be used easily as a mobile app. This article reviews the basic principles of smile design, various parameters of smile design, comparison of various software, uses, advantages and limitations of DSD.