Article:

Digital technology permeates every aspect of daily life, and dentistry has, somewhat cautiously, welcomed this influx of digital technology into daily practice. One area that has been slow to evolve is the digital information transfer from the dentist to the dental laboratory. The primary and conventional tools of communication between the dentist and the technician are photography, written documentation (including restoration type, teeth treated, and shade) ––all in the form of a laboratory slip ––and impressions of the patient’s existing dentition, the clinical preparations, and the opposing dentition. This article will review and explore some of the digital opportunities and rationales for digital communication of all forms of clinical information from the dentist to the laboratory.