DT News - MEA - Prof. Daniel Wismeijer on the importance of 3-D printing in dentistry

Dental Tribune Middle East

Wed. 16 May 2018

save

We’re here at the 13th CAD/CAM Conference in Dubai. This is the second time I’m here, the first time I was here was about three years ago at the tenth edition. The CAD/CAM conference is focusing on the digital workflow in dentistry.

And what is interesting about the digital workflow is, it’s showing us how dentistry is going to be changing in the coming years. What we see is that we’re getting away from the analogue and going full digital. Digital diagnostics Lets us look at our patients from a virtual perspective.. We do the CAD, the planning; we go into CAM; we have the milling; we have the 3-D printing. And then we can execute the total treatment, as we go to the patients ourselves. So, looking around here at this conference, we see a lot of industry that understands the change that we are up against in dentistry. They’re here presenting the technologies that they all have in portfolio.

One of the problems however is that these technologies are all in verticals. The technologies are not horizontally connected together. So, what we’re looking for is a horizontal connection between all these vertical technologies to get the digital workflow to really work for dentists.
Questions are directed to me all the time: “How are we going to do this?” “Could you explain how I can integrate this into my workflow?” But, if you don’t have the proper software and you haven’t learnt how to use it, then you’re going to get into trouble when you try to implement it. So, the credo here is that you have to learn, unlearn and relearn to understand what’s happening in digital dentistry.

Today, I gave a presentation on 3-D printing in dentistry. Some of the questions that were posed to me after my presentation told me that people do not fully understand yet what 3-D printing actually is. And they’re asking me: “Can I use that printer for printing metals?” No, you can’t. “What can I read to learn more about digital dentistry?” Well, my idea would be to get a book on 3-D printing. This can be a very easy and simple book to help you understand the technologies behind 3-D printing. When you understand the technologies, then you can also find a way of implementing these technologies into the workflow. It’s not just plug-and-play, it’s not “here you have a machine and now you can get to work”. No, you have to understand the role the machine plays in the total digital workflow in dentistry.

You have to understand which machines you need to make the digital workflow work for you. So, it’s not just about reading up on the end solutions; it’s also reading up on the basics, the technology itself, and learning about subjects that you need to first understand i.e.; what digital dentistry is and what 3-D printing is. If you don’t understand the basics, it’s going to be very difficult to understand the final execution of all these technologies in your workflow.

My advice is: be humble, be prepared to learn, be prepared to unlearn everything that you have learnt in the past and relearn the new technologies to be able to function properly in the new digital workflow.

Thank you.

To post a reply please login or register

Prof. Dr. Daniel Wismeijer first to place NextDent 3D Printed Crown Technology in EMEA region

“It is amazing how efficient the 3D printing technique is. Normally, patients need to undergo various treatments, but with the use of the 3D digital ...

Dental experts on CAD/CAM, digital dentistry and 3D Printing to lecture in Dubai

The 13th CAD/CAM & Digital Dentistry Conference & Exhibition to be held by CAPP (Centre for Advanced Professional Practices) in May 2018 in Dubai, CAD/CAM, ...

Digital technology in dentistry

Interview with Martin Serck from Carestream about digital technology in dentistry.

Endodontics hands-on courses offered in July in Dubai

DUBAI, UAE: CAPP (Centre for Advanced Professional Practices) is specialising in organising high-quality continuing education (CE) courses which are ...

CAPP gets featured in Gulf News – one of the largest Gulf region newspapers

Gulf News first launched in 1978, and is currently distributed throughout the UAE and also in other Persian Gulf Countries. Its online edition was launched ...

Implant lectures and hands-on courses at the 36th CAD/CAM Digital & Oral Facial Aesthetics Int'l Dental ConfEx in Dubai

Are you an implantologist looking to enhance your skills and knowledge in the field of implantology? Look no further than the 36th CAD/CAM Digital & ...

Incredible thrill at the graduation ceremony of the Laser Mastership CAPP cohort 2019 in Germany

AACHEN, GERMANY: On 16-19 December 2019, dental professionals who were part of the Laser Mastership Programme CAPP UAE cohort of 2019, successfully ...

Dr Fatma Banday graduates with merit the “Master of Science Specialist Practise of Pulpal Therapy and Endodontics”

Dental Tribune Middle East and Africa interviewed Dr. Fatma Banday, a General Dentist who previously lived and worked in Karachi, Pakistan. Dr. Fatma ...

Dr Galip Gürel coming to Dubai to teach his signature veneers hands-on course in cooperation with CAPP

Prepare to seize a rare opportunity as Dr Galip Gürel, the esteemed author of “The Science and Art of Porcelain Laminate Veneers,” arrives in Dubai to ...

Education

On-demand
webinar