Arpit Sikri

Digital technology is driving remarkable change in the practice of Prosthodontics. The many benefits of digital dental technologies can be summarized under four broad categories. The first is improved communication, error free, real time communication underscores the efficiency of integrated electronic patient records. Advancements in dental technology enable patients to receive modern solutions of conventional dental problems. Prosthodontists can incorporate digital technology into their practices to improve their workflow efficiency and ease of collaboration with laboratories. In this book, digital technologies that are available for prosthetic dentistry such as digital radiography, electronic prescriptions, computerized case presentations, virtual articulator and facebow, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing restorations, digital impressions, and shade selection are described along with emphasis on advantages and limitations of digital technology.

Smile, a person's ability to express a range of emotions with the structure and movement of the teeth and lips, can often determine how well a person can function in society. Of course, the importance given to a beautiful smile is not new. Dentists today face exciting times with the advancement of smile design treatment planning options. Adaptation of a streamlined smile design process to ensure predictable aesthetics and function is a reality of the capacity of digital dentistry. Our patients are growing more sophisticated than ever and expect reliable treatment outcomes that can be visualized prior to proceeding with treatment. Although traditional analog treatment planning for comprehensive full-mouth rehabilitation is predictable with a hand-fabricated diagnostic wax-up, patients can become more involved from the beginning of treatment planning with a digital diagnosis and workflow. As a Prosthodontist, the smile we create should be esthetically appealing and functionally sound too. It is our duty to carefully diagnose, analyze and deliver the best to our patients.