Ann Arbor, MI — October 29, 2012 — Two University of Michigan School of Dentistry faculty members received an Award of Excellence during a recent meeting of dental professionals that focused on advances in digital technology used in dentistry and how those developments may affect the profession and patients in the future.  The awards were presented during the CEREC 27.5 Anniversary Celebration which also included the unveiling some new technology dentists will soon be using in their practices.

Dr. Dennis Fasbinder, clinical professor in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics (CRSE), received an Award of Excellence for a poster presentation that looked at ideal ways to prepare endodontically treated teeth in order to restore them with bonded ceramic restorations fabricated using CAD/CAM technology.  Dr. Kevin Cook, adjunct clinical assistant professor, was co-author of the study.

Dr. Gisele Neiva, clinical associate professor (CRSE), also received an Award of Excellence for her poster presentation that reported the results of a four-year clinical study where patients received high-strength porcelain crowns fabricated during a single visit using CAD/CAM technology.  This process eliminated the need for a temporary crown and a subsequent visit to place the finished restoration.  CRSE faculty members Drs. Dennis Fasbinder, Donald Heys, professor, and Joseph Dennison, professor emeritus, were co-authors of that study.

Digital Technology Advances Dentistry at U-M

For nearly 20 years, CAD/CAM and digital technology have been used extensively by residents in the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program at the U-M School of Dentistry.  During the past 10 years, dental students have completed CAD/CAM restorations as part of their clinical education.  Students also have an opportunity to take an elective course on the CEREC System.

Last year, digital impression techniques were incorporated into the dental school curriculum for all dental students.  “Digital technology is becoming an important part of dental practice, both for dentists and their patients,” Fasbinder said, “so we are training students how to use CAD/CAM and other digital technologies during dental school.  We want U-M graduates prepared to use these techniques and devices to help their patients when they enter practice.”

Post-Graduate Computerized Dentistry Program

Because of the School’s educational and research emphasis on the applications of digital technology, CRSE is now developing the first post-graduate program in North America designed exclusively around the use of CAD/CAM and digital technology.  The program is scheduled to begin next summer.

The one-year program will focus on the application of technology in comprehensive patient care.  Students in this advanced education program will have the opportunity to use various technologies in patient care settings to diagnose, develop treatment plans, and restore both natural teeth and dental implants.  To learn more, click the link above and select “Computerized Dentistry.”