CAD Software and Its Influence on Complex Treatment Planning

Abstract

Purpose of Review
Diagnostics and planning are essential in managing complex clinical situations that require intervention from multiple dental specialties such as implant surgery, periodontics, orthodontics, and restorative dentistry. We examine how the progress of digital technologies and the development of multiple computer-aided design (CAD) software had brought the possibility of determining the desired outcome before any dental treatment is performed, providing guidance for a patient-specific interdisciplinary and minimally invasive treatment plan. We access the use of different CAD software for planning every step of complex dental treatments.

Recent Findings
Foreseeing the final outcome of dental treatments, by using distinct CAD software, allows early identification of specific treatment necessities, such as crown lengthening or other surgical procedures, orthodontic movements, and placement of indirect restorations. Also, it allows the doctors to visualize how each treatment influences further dental procedures. Computer technology is transforming the way we perform dentistry. It allows the conversion of what were previously pure manual tasks into easier, faster, sometimes cheaper, and more predictable mechanized processes. Facial and intra-oral scanners along with CAD software programs allow the integration of digitally-acquired patient information and the creation of a “virtual patient.” With patients’ virtual representation and by using several different CAD software, diagnostic and treatment planning can be made much more accurate, especially in complex clinical situations.

Summary
The present article discusses how digital technologies and different CAD software programs can positively influence complex treatment planning and help avoiding complications. Starting from patient data acquisition using digital tools, to the integration of data, leading to the creation of a virtual patient, that allows using 2D and 3D CAD software to obtain precise treatment plans, optimized to the specific conditions of each patient. The end result would be a truly “reverse engineering” process.

Full text

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Current Oral Health Reports (2023) 10:59–68
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40496-023-00335-2
CAD Software andIts Influence onComplex Treatment Planning
CatarinaG.Rodrigues1 · MiguelStanley1,2
Accepted: 10 May 2023 / Published online: 8 June 2023
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023
Abstract
Purpose of Review Diagnostics and planning are essential in managing complex clinical situations that require intervention
from multiple dental specialties such as implant surgery, periodontics, orthodontics, and restorative dentistry. We exam-
ine how the progress of digital technologies and the development of multiple computer-aided design (CAD) software had
brought the possibility of determining the desired outcome before any dental treatment is performed, providing guidance
for a patient-specific interdisciplinary and minimally invasive treatment plan. We access the use of different CAD software
for planning every step of complex dental treatments.
Recent Findings Foreseeing the final outcome of dental treatments, by using distinct CAD software, allows early identifi-
cation of specific treatment necessities, such as crown lengthening or other surgical procedures, orthodontic movements,
and placement of indirect restorations. Also, it allows the doctors to visualize how each treatment influences further dental
procedures. Computer technology is transforming the way we perform dentistry. It allows the conversion of what were pre-
viously pure manual tasks into easier, faster, sometimes cheaper, and more predictable mechanized processes. Facial and
intra-oral scanners along with CAD software programs allow the integration of digitally-acquired patient information and the
creation of a “virtual patient.” With patients’ virtual representation and by using several different CAD software, diagnostic
and treatment planning can be made much more accurate, especially in complex clinical situations.
Summary The present article discusses how digital technologies and different CAD software programs can positively
influence complex treatment planning and help avoiding complications. Starting from patient data acquisition using digital
tools, to the integration of data, leading to the creation of a virtual patient, that allows using 2D and 3D CAD software to
obtain precise treatment plans, optimized to the specific conditions of each patient. The end result would be a truly “reverse
engineering” process.
Keywords Computer-aided design (CAD)· Digital workflow· 2D planning· 3D virtual planning· STL· digital design
Introduction
The establishment of a proper diagnosis and treatment plan
is critical when managing complex cases [1]. Risk assess-
ment, comprehensive planning, and decision-making are
possibly the most challenging phases of any treatment [2••].
Understanding the patient’s needs and agreeing on a clear
treatment goal are crucial to obtaining a pleasant end result
[1, 3••, 4, 5]. Nowadays dentists have multiple technologies
available to help perform a good diagnostic, such as digital
radiology and photography, intra-oral scanners, facial scan-
ners, and devices that evaluate occlusion [6•, 7, 8, 9••, 10].
Rapid advancements in computer-aided design and
computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) have opened
new pathways in dentistry. CAD software programs can
be used to fuse data from all the previously mentioned
technologies, creating a 3D virtual patient. Then, the entire
treatment plan could be simulated non-invasively, shared
via network-mediated communication tools, and adapted to
the patient’s expectations. These CAD programs can also
be used for virtual orthodontic and prosthetic planning
as well as for guided surgery planning [2••, 6•, 7, 8, 9••,
10–15]. Specifically, in cases of guided surgery planning,
the opportunity to integrate the prosthetic and the implant
* Catarina G. Rodrigues
catarinarodrigues@whiteclinic.pt
1 White Clinic, Rua Dr. António Loureiro Borges, Edif. 5, 1°
Andar Arquiparque, 1495-131 Algés, Lisbon, Portugal
2 Division ofRestorative Dentistry, University ofPennsylvania,
School ofDental Medicine, Philadelphia, USA
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