Digital Implant Dentistry: Imaging, Planning, Placement and Restorations

Recent developments in digital technology are rapidly changing the way we approach planning and treatment patients with dental implant supported restorations. Predictable outcomes are routinely derived through a coordinated effort between the restorative dentist, surgeon and technician. It is therefore imperative that the treatment team have common goals, knowledge of available technology and desire to incorporate this technology into the workflow to achieve optimal patient care and esthetic results. This two-day course will consist of a combination of lecture and hands-on sessions introducing participants to the collaborative approach to interdisciplinary digital dentistry.

Participants will learn how to incorporate guided surgery software into everyday practice to achieve treatment success. The hands-on component of this course will allow participants to practice treatment planning implant cases using guided surgery software. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to place dental implants using a surgical template and guided surgery instrumentation on models. Participants will also learn how to fabricate radiographic and surgical templates in the lab.

Following an in-depth surgical planning and guided placement protocol, the crown-down philosophy of restorative dentistry will be discusssed as it relates to intra-oral impressions and CAD/CAM technology. The intra-oral scan data can be imported into CAD/CAM software for design without a model, saving the technician and restorative doctor time and money. Hands-on demonstrations will focus on implant-level digital impressions and reading and editing the data to send a precise digital impression directly to the laboratory for CAD design and fabrication.

CAD/CAM dentistry offers technicians great flexibility and a variety of materials. Participants will review the indications for screw-retained bars and bridges and abutment restorations, and learn collaborative planning techniques to help ensure a premium esthetic result.