A Survey of Dentists' Perception of Chair-Side CAD/CAM Technology.

The application of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology in dentistry has rapidly expanded. This survey aimed to investigate attitudes and current practice of dentists in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia regarding chair-side CAD/CAM technology. An online questionnaire was prepared and sent to a convenience sample of dentists in Riyadh. Questions related to practice aspects of chair-side CAD/CAM system, attitudes and training were presented. A total of 114 questionnaires were completed (77.6% response rate). Study population comprised dentists of a wide range of clinical experience who are working in the various regions of Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Of the participants, 27.2% indicated the presence of a chair-side CAD/CAM system at their current workplace and 57% used the chair-side CAD/CAM in the fabrication of dental crowns. The vast majority of participants (81%) believe that the overall quality of chair-side CAD/CAM restorations is at least as good as those fabricated by a lab technician or much better. Most responding dentists considered the chair-side CAD/CAM system as important in terms of time saving, boosting the number of visiting patients and income improvement. The willingness to dedicate the time and effort to learn the chair-side CAD/CAM technology was apparent amid a high proportion of dentists (75.4%). The findings of this pilot survey reflect broad satisfaction and positive attitude among the surveyed dentists towards use and outcome of chair-side CAD/CAM technology in the dental clinical practice. It seems that the CAD/CAM technology has infiltrated into the workflow of Saudi dental practices with speculations of growing implementation among the wider sector of dental practitioners in the future.

The Perceptions of Dentists Working in Saudi Arabia of the Utility of Different Restoration Options for a Shortened Dental Arch in Patients of Different Ages.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess dentists' views of the utility of an unrestored shortened dental arch (SDA) compared to the utility of various prosthetic treatment options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 142 dentists working at four sites in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were interviewed and presented with 18 scenarios for patients of different ages with SDAs that lost molar teeth. Participants were asked to indicate on a standardized visual analog scale (VAS) how they would value the health of the patient's mouth if the SDAs were left unrestored or restored with five prosthetic dental restorations. RESULTS: With a utility value of 0.0 representing the worst possible health state for a mouth and 1.0 representing the best, dentists' mean utility value for unrestored SDAs was 0.43 (standard deviation [SD] = 0.28). For implant-supported fixed dental prostheses (ISFDPs), cobalt-chromium removable partial dentures (RPDs), acrylic RPDs, cantilever conventional fixed dental prostheses (CFDPs), and cantilever resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses (RBFDPs), the mean utility values were 0.64 (SD = 0.27), 0.54 (SD = 0.20), 0.48 (SD = 0.20), 0.42 (SD = 0.28), and 0.39 (SD = 0.27), respectively. Neither patient age nor dentists' clinical experience had an impact on dentists' perceptions of the utility of unrestored SDAs and outcomes of this treatment concept (P > .01). CONCLUSION: Restoration of SDAs by ISFDPs received the highest utility value among the surveyed group of dentists. Although the assigned value for unrestored SDAs was low, this value was comparable to the value of SDAs that were restored by acrylic RPDs or cantilever FDPs of either type.

A study of dentists' preferences for the restoration of shortened dental arches with partial dentures.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use a utility method in order to assess dentists' preferences for the restoration of shortened dental arches (SDAs) with partial dentures. Also, the impact of patient age and length of the SDA on dentists' preferences for the partial dentures was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Totally, 104 subjects holding a basic degree in dentistry and working as staff members in a private dental college in Saudi Arabia were interviewed and presented with 12 scenarios for patients of different ages and mandibular SDAs of varying length. Participants were asked to indicate on a standardized visual analog scale how they would value the health of the patient's mouth if the mandibular SDAs were restored with cobalt-chromium removable partial dentures (RPDs). RESULTS: With a utility value of 0.0 representing the worst possible health state for a mouth and 1.0 representing the best, dentists' average utility value of the RPD for the SDAs was 0.49 (sd= 0.15). Mean utility scores of the RPDs across the 12 SDA scenarios ranged between 0.35 and 0.61. RPDs that restored the extremely SDAs attracted the highest utility values and dentists' utility of the RPD significantly increased with the increase in the number of missing posterior teeth. No significant differences in dentists' mean utility values for the RPD were identified among SDA scenarios for patients of different ages. CONCLUSION: Restoration of the mandibular SDAs by RPDs is not a highly preferred treatment option among the surveyed group of dentists. Length of the SDA affects dentists' preferences for the RPD, but patient age does not.

Assessment of Chair-side Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing Restorations: A Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: This paper aimed to evaluate the application of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology and the factors that affect the survival of restorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A thorough literature search using PubMed, Medline, Embase, Science Direct, Wiley Online Library and Grey literature were performed from the year 2004 up to June 2014. Only relevant research was considered. RESULTS: The use of chair-side CAD/CAM systems is promising in all dental branches in terms of minimizing time and effort made by dentists, technicians and patients for restoring and maintaining patient oral function and aesthetic, while providing high quality outcome. CONCLUSION: The way of producing and placing the restorations made with the chair-side CAD/CAM (CEREC and E4D) devices is better than restorations made by conventional laboratory procedures.