Revolutionizing Dentistry: The Benefits of Virtual Articulators - Essay Sample

Introduction

Over the years, there have been tremendous trends that have been made which are inclined towards improving the field of dentistry. Technology, particularly, has proved essential in that it has allowed the development of different dynamics that efficiently employed an adopted in the field of dentistry. The use of virtual articulator is fast-rising, considering that it has allowed the use of virtual reality in the field of medicine and as a result, the clinical; outcomes have improved significantly. On the same note, the unique approach by virtual articulators that has encouraged its use in prosthodontics is due to their ability to incorporate the use of computer-aided design (CAD) systems as well as virtual design processes (Raja'a & Farid, 2016). Prosthodontics benefits in a variety of ways. In this study, the benefits of a virtual articulator in prosthodontics are evaluated with the primary objective of presenting this technological advancement as a vital tool that will change the field of dentistry (Kar, Yuvaraj, Garhnayak, Dev, Mishra, Patro, & Ganchoudhury, 2019). Evaluation of the dynamics relating to the use of virtual articulator in prosthodontics entails identifying the advantages associated with them which in turn result to enhanced design, manufacture, and fitting of artificial replacements for teeth and other parts of the mouth.

Background

Firstly, the modern world is fast-changing in that technology is being employed as a solution to many of the issues that are faced. The field of dentistry, for instance, is keeping up with these trends in that the use of artificial replacements in place of teeth, as well as other parts of the mouth, is prevalent now more than ever. Obtaining accurate measurements that will guide the process of design, manufacture, and fitting is quite challenging. In prosthetic dentistry, there are many trials relating to virtual articulators which seek to showcase how they can be useful in the field. A three-dimensional view of the real-life is possible to be attained making it possible to scrutinize different medical dynamics from a variety of angles (Kar, Yuvaraj, Garhnayak, Dev, Mishra, Patro, & Ganchoudhury, 2019). In addition to this, kinematic analysis (which is an engineering concept) also applies in that there is the practical design of different components. Most dental facilities are using mechanical articulators, and the shortcoming with them is that they are more likely to be subject to errors (Bhayana, Atreja, Atreja, Juneja, & Kumar, 2015). Most of the mechanical articulators require the patient data that is used in the design and manufacture of artificial replacements to be used on past data, and this might present the challenge of their inability to fit (Raja'a & Farid, 2016). Furthermore, mechanical articulators are unable to employ programming as a feature in the reproduction process of the prosthodontics (Park, 2017).

Problem Statement

The use of virtual articulators is highly recommended by this study mainly because it solves the problem of prosthodontics that cannot fit. If the virtual articulators are to be adopted, they would be replacing mechanical ones, and as a result, a series of issues will be solved (Pandita, Dod, & Bhat, 2016). There is the problem of the deformation of bite registration material. Such a problem presents patients with the challenge of the problem of biting as the wax that is used alongside the mechanical articulators is susceptible to heat changes (Sabalic & Schoener, 2017). Thus, the wax has to be placed appropriately in the process of repositioning, and virtual reality allows a more advanced view of all the angles of the moth during the process.

Moreover, there is the challenge of adequately repositioning the cast into the bite impressions. The particular problem that arises is space being left, and this leads to further dental issues. Most importantly, the artificial replacement needs to be stable to serve the given purpose in the mouth, and mechanical articulators are unable to fit them firmly (Singh, Kaur, & Chawla, 2015). Lastly, there are issues relating to incorrect orientation and use of rigid plaster that is poor with mechanical articulators (Luthra, Gupta, Kumar, Mehta, & Sirohi, 2015). Virtual articulators offer a solution to all these issues in that they allow rigid placement, and there is a high level of accuracy when designing, manufacturing, and fitting.

Objectives

• To identify the features of the virtual articulator
• To ascertain the challenges associated with the use of mechanical articulator
• Highlighting the solutions of virtual articulators to the challenges brought about by mechanical articulators
• Determining the benefits of a virtual articulator in prosthodontics as a technologically relevant technique

Study Design

Secondary analysis is the qualitative method of research that is to be used. The study design will entail identifying secondary sources that contain information relating to the use of virtual articulator in prosthodontics. Journals, books, as well as articles, are used, and the ones that are to be used are those that were recently published with the latest one from the year 2015.

Data Collection Methods/Instruments

Data collection is through document analysis in that the studies and research by other researchers are evaluated for further evaluation.

Data Analysis Methods

Content analysis and narrative analysis are to be used as data analysis techniques. Upon carrying out document analysis, the data that will be captured will be subjected to scrutiny based on the research questions and objectives.

References

Bhayana, G., Atreja, S. H., Atreja, G., Juneja, A., & Kumar, A. (2015). Virtual articulators in prosthodontics: a future-oriented technology. Am J Oral Medicine Rad, 2(4), 217-20. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8d52/370b383067728204789e0bfcb80b6859d143.pdf

Kar, A. K., Yuvaraj, P., Garhnayak, M., Dev, S. V., Mishra, P. C., Patro, T. K., ... & Ganchoudhury, N. (2019). Clinical Computing in Dentistry. In Computer Vision in Dentistry. IntechOpen. Retrieved from https://www.intechopen.com/online-first/clinical-computing-in-dentistry

Luthra, R. P., Gupta, R., Kumar, N., Mehta, S., & Sirohi, R. (2015). Virtual articulators in prosthetic dentistry: A review. Journal of Advanced Medical and Dental Sciences Research, 3(4), 117. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/40d3/1ca07b0c993eae9dc172d2bca8782e689433.pdf

Pandita, A., Dod, A., & Bhat, R. (2016). Virtual articulators: digital excellence in prosthetic and restorative dentistry. J Appl Dent Med Sci, 2, 110-117. Retrieved from http://www.joadms.org/download/article/147/19102016_27/1476283475.pdf

Park, S. (2017). Digitalization of virtual articulator: methods, discrepancy to real articulators, comparing of each method. Retrieved from http://repository.lsmuni.lt/handle/1/33223

Raja'a, M., & Farid, F. (2016). Computer-based technologies in dentistry: types and applications. Journal of dentistry (Tehran, Iran), 13(3), 215. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5376549/

Sabalic, M., & Schoener, J. D. (2017). Virtual Reality-Based Technologies in Dental Medicine: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice Among Students and Practitioners. Technology, Knowledge, and Learning, 22(2), 199-207. DOI: 10.1007/s10758-017-9305-4

Singh, K., Kaur, K., & Chawla, G. (2015). VIRTUAL ARTICULATORS IN PROSTHODONTICS. Indian Journal of Comprehensive Dental Care (IJCDC), 5(2). Retrieved from http://www.joadms.org/download/article/147/19102016_27/1476283475.pdf