Technological Innovation in Oral Rehabilitation
Prof. Simona Tecco, DDS, MSc, PhD
Abstract
The intervention pursues the aim of describing the conventional methods used in evaluating the function of the stomatognathic system. Subsequently, some new digital technologies, mostly the ModJaw device, are illustrated, that allow the clinician to obtain a more detailed, precise, and standardized function analysis. Consequently, the usefulness of these devices in everyday practice in defining a dysfunctional patient is therefore clarified to then represent examples of functional rehabilitation in prostheses and orthodontics already published in the literature.
The entire clinical protocol used at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan (Italy) in the dental clinic will be described, from the initial visit to the monitoring of treatment outcomes, including electromyographic measurements of the masticatory muscles. The use of remote monitoring procedures via telemedicine will also be explained. Full-digital workflow protocols for the manufacturing of therapeutic devices will be described.
Finally, the main advantages and disadvantages of the new digital technologies are listed, also in relation to the medico-legal responsibility of the clinician in cases of complex rehabilitation.
The final part of the presentation will briefly describe some new lines of research in this field conducted by the group at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University of Milan, such as a comparison of some of the most recent devices for mandibular motion tracking, both from a technical standpoint and regarding the execution of the exam, from the patient’s and clinician’s perspective, with some practical tips on using these tools.
Learning Objectives
- Assess the impact of digital technologies on temporomandibular joint diagnosis
- Discover how to effectively integrate analog and digital workflows for optimal oral rehabilitation in orthodontics and gnathology
- Understand the way to establish jaw position through a step-by-step presentation of digital workflow.