Introduction to Innovative Dental Technology
The field of dentistry is continually evolving, with latest technologies and methods being developed to enhance the training experience for college students. One such innovation is the usage of FDM-printed wax-up templates, that are revolutionizing the way in which students practice and learn dental procedures.
FDM-Printed Wax-Up Templates
Students are actually being supplied with pre-produced 3D printed wax-up templates, that are based on traditional gypsum templates. These templates are created using Ultimaker’s Cura software and manufactured by modified FDM-printers. The material used for production is a high-quality, food-safe, biocompatible, sterilizable, and temperature-resistant PLA-filament. This material is created from renewable raw materials and is biodegradable, making it a super alternative for dental applications. The use of FDM-printed wax-up templates ensures that each one students have a unified and an identical model to practice with, allowing for a more standardized and efficient learning experience.
The Basics of Programming
The application that utilizes these wax-up templates was programmed for devices running the iOS operating system, specifically for the iPhone 14 Pro. This device features an integrated LiDar-sensor, which provides additional spatial awareness, and an array of three physical lenses. The application was developed using the Swift language and Xcode, with a mixture of pure coding and visual scripting. The minimum requirement for the applying is iOS version 16.2, and it was tested and maintained on an iPhone 14 Pro.
Integrated Frameworks
The application integrates several Swift frameworks to enable various features. These include:
- UIKit/CocoaTouch, which is used to design and operate the graphical user interface
- ARKit, which handles the device’s camera input and calculates spatial orientation
- SceneKit, which is the underlying 3D rendering engine for creating and integrating overlays into the AR session
Management of 3D-Models and Storage of Assets
The stereolithography-fileformat (.stl) was used to import the digital model of the wax-up template into the Cura software. Blender, a free and open-source 3D modeling software, was used to create the model assets for the AR overlay and convert them into the Collada fileformat (.dae). These files were then imported into Xcode and converted into SceneKit scenes (.scn). Materials were applied to the models using code, and pictures were embedded in the applying within the portable network graphics file format (.png) or as AR reference images.
Approaching Development with Instructor Feedback
The development of the applying was a collaborative effort, with a teaching faculty dentist conducting the programming. This allowed for direct and versatile development, eliminating communication hassles and waiting times. The application was presented to experienced dentists, who provided feedback on functionality and design. This feedback was implemented, and the applying was reevaluated and refined over multiple iterations to realize the ultimate stage.
Conclusion
The use of FDM-printed wax-up templates and the event of the accompanying application mark a big innovation in dental education. By providing students with a unified and standardized model to practice with, and utilizing cutting-edge technologies comparable to ARKit and SceneKit, this application has the potential to revolutionize the way in which dental procedures are taught and learned. The collaborative development process, which incorporated feedback from experienced instructors, ensures that the applying is each effective and user-friendly. As the sector of dentistry continues to evolve, it is probably going that we’ll see much more revolutionary uses of technology to enhance the training experience for college students.
