EIOH's Center of Excellence for Digital Dentistry
As digital technology continues to gain momentum in dentistry, Eastman Institute for Oral Health has been working diligently to establish a Center of Excellence in this area.
Digital technology is nothing new for Eastman. With its pioneering teledentistry program, Eastman’s initiative in Pediatric Dentistry resulted in huge taxpayer savings and significantly improved patient compliance rates.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Prosthodontics have been using digitally guided surgeries to remove tumors, place implants and rehabilitate patients’ function. Prosthodontics and Periodontics have been designing implants, dentures and crowns, while AEGD worked with University of Rochester experts using digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to effectively screen and diagnose cavities.
“We have been working with some leading private companies who partnered with us to design digital workflows to fabricate full-arch implant prostheses,” explained Dr. Carlo Ercoli, chair, EIOH Prosthodontics and Director of Digital Dentistry.
“Since then, our research team has published several innovative techniques in digital dentistry that many clinicians around the world have already started implementing,” added Dr. Konstantinos Chochlidakis (MS ’19, Prostho ‘13), program director, Prosthodontics Residency Program. “Our aim is to expedite clinical treatment time while maintaining the highest level of accuracy and quality.”
While these efforts had already positioned EIOH at the forefront of digital technology, the advancement, dissemination and incorporation of technology in all of people’s professional and personal spheres have led to the advent of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR). Digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, big data and analytics, wearables, AI, as well as additive manufacturing, have been at the center of 4IR and promise to disrupt not only personal lives, but the way we deliver treatment to patients and provide education to our students.
“When technology advances at such a significant pace, it affects not only one area of dentistry, but every aspect of how we effectively carry out our mission at EIOH and the University--to improve oral health care through caring, discovery, teaching and learning,” explained Dr. Ercoli, who also serves as the associate director for Strategy and Innovation.
“This needed a transformational, comprehensive, institutional approach to technology.”
That’s exactly what Dr. Ercoli (MBA ‘19, Perio ’12, GenDen ’98, OFP ’97, Prostho ’96) set out to do in mid-2022.
With EIOH Director Dr. Eli Eliav’s support, Dr. Ercoli reached out to department chairs to gauge their interest with incorporating digital dentistry into all the residency programs and creating a hub, where excellence in all areas of digital dentistry could be pursued.
They responded enthusiastically and worked together to establish a steering committee. EIOH faculty, residents, staff, admissions, and the EIOH Foundation Board were all represented.
After extensive and thoughtful discussion, they agreed on a vision, established a plan and got straight to work.
“Today’s residents were raised using technology, and it’s important to be cognizant of this as we began this all-inclusive process,” Dr. Ercoli said. “We created new courses at the introductory and advanced levels, in all disciplines, we envisioned new formats for our master’s students and fellows, we designed a continuing education portfolio for our part-time faculty and the community at large, we identified research opportunities and created a business plan to make sure our effort is fiscally sustainable.”
“Integrating digital dentistry into our residency programs aligns with industry trends and ensures residents are not only well-prepared for the current state of dental practices, but also equipped to adapt to continuous advancements in technology,” said Dr. Eliav. “Equally important, it reflects our commitment to providing high-quality and technologically advanced patient care.”
Recently appointed clinical director of Digital Dentistry and Dental Laboratory in General Dentistry, Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud (GenDen ’23, ‘21) says digital dentistry brings transformative benefits to patients, enhancing the quality and efficiency of dental procedures.
“Digital dentistry improves patients’ experience, increases treatment accuracy, reduces treatment times and enhances comfort during procedures,” he said. “Integrating digital technologies contributes to more precise diagnoses, personalized treatment plans and an overall superior patient experience.”
Eastman’s renewed commitment to digital dentistry is not just a technological shift, he added, but a transformative journey that elevates patient care and equips dental professionals for success in the dynamic landscape of oral health.
“The Center of Excellence for Digital Dentistry will bring great value to EIOH,” said Dr. Elli Anna Kotsailidi (MS ’20, Perio ‘19), Periodontology Clinic director and member of the steering committee. “It will uniquely stand to educate international students, residents and dentists in the region on the use of digital technologies in improving and facilitating patient care.”
She and Dr. Dimitrios Michelogiannakis (Ortho ’17, MS ‘17), program director for the Orthodontics Residency Program, helped develop course curriculum that introduces the fundamentals of digital dentistry, as well as existing and potential applications for their specialties.
“Advanced didactic, lab and patient care experiences in digital dentistry will undoubtedly provide residents with valuable skills and knowledge,” said Linda Lipani, EIOH registrar. “By incorporating digital imaging, CAD/CAM systems, and 3D printing, residents will gain invaluable hands-on experience with today’s dental hardware and software, gaining the ability to tailor care to individual patient needs.”
Eastman Institute’s foresight and emphasis on innovation exemplify its leadership role in shaping the future of dentistry.
“As residents transition into private clinics or pursue further postgraduate training, Eastman alumni find themselves seamlessly aligned and leading with the latest technologies,” Dr. Mahmoud added. “This forward-thinking approach positions residents for success with both their immediate post-residency careers and their long-term trajectories, providing a distinct advantage in an ever-advancing field.”
Residents actively participated in the steering committee effort to chart this new direction at EIOH. Residents—the future faculty, clinicians and alumni—are uniquely positioned as digital natives to advise the EIOH leadership. AEGD Resident Dr. Gasser Ibrahim, for example, has been invaluable to the committee’s work.
“Eastman Institute for Oral Health will serve as one of very few academic centers that focus on digital dental education,” said Dr. Ibrahim, who has experience in his own private practice with digitizing dental laboratory products and digital treatment planning. “Performing dental and technical research within the same facility will improve the quality of the resident experience and pave the way the way for more digitally oriented mentors in the future.”
Next Steps
Now that the framework and sustainable business model are in place, Dr. Ercoli is developing an implementation team. “We’re excited to begin this phase, but there are still many details and a few challenges that need to be addressed, like space constraints and staffing shortages,” he said.
Dr. Ercoli and the team are targeting July 2024 to begin the pilot phase, spending the spring and early summer addressing renovations, final processes and managing regulation and policy matters.
“We will continually assess our progress and make necessary adjustments along the way,” Dr. Ercoli added. “We look forward to being one the few leaders in digital dentistry that incorporates 4IR within our fabric, attracting a new generation of faculty and students that will propel us forward—Meliora!”
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