Defining the influence of digitalization on the future of dentistry through an educational handbook for Computer Aided Design tool training

Digital dentistry is revolutionizing the dental industry, and Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is in the center of this transformation. The training of future students should include a deep understanding of this technology. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current practicality of a written protocol that participants could follow step-by-step in a CAD design program. A dedicated guide was conceived to facilitate the use of Exocad design software (Exocad Gmbh, Germany) and it was distributed to 134 students enrolled in Dentistry and Dental Technique study programs. Two detailed protocols were included, which served as support for practical activities in the laboratory, aimed at making a coping and a full anatomical crown. To emphasize the advantages as well as the limits of the guide used for its optimization, at the end of the meeting the students were asked to give feedback in the form of a questionnaire. Answers were statistically analyzed in SPSS. The well-structured protocol guided students in mastering the principles of designing dental restorations and efficiently using CAD/CAM equipment. It helped optimize the learning process and improve the skills needed for excellence in digital dentistry. The results of this study may serve as a guide for other institutions wishing to implement similar solutions. It is essential that dentists and dental technicians benefit from continuous training in the field of digital dentistry to efficiently use new technologies and offer patients high-quality treatments.