Dental Asia March/April 2024

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
NAVIGATING TRADITIONAL AND
DIGITAL DENTISTRY
The challenge faced by the University of
Helsinki mirrors that of dental universities
worldwide: Balancing traditional and digital
methods in dentistry within a fixed timeframe.
The digital revolution not only affects
prosthetics but also other areas of dentistry.
For example, it is already common to use
automated devices for root canal treatments
instead of mere hand instrumentation. For
dental schools, it is necessary to cover both.
Kämppi joined the University of Helsinki five
years ago, just as the dentistry curriculum
was being revised to include courses in digital
dentistry. Previously, the students had learned
to capture 3D images and utilise implant
planning software on the go, usually during
their practical training.
"With the curriculum update, we wanted to
ensure our department can keep up with
the latest technological developments in
dentistry. With our digital dentistry curriculum,
we are now teaching digital workflows and
offering digital implant planning and clear
aligner courses,” Kämppi said.
In Finland, the duration of dentistry studies
has been determined for all universities
by a government decree. Accordingly, the
studies span five-and-a-half years, leading
to a Licentiate in Dentistry degree, which
is equivalent to a Doctor of Dental Science
(DDS). Five of those years are dedicated
to theoretical and clinical studies at the
university, followed by six months of practical
training at a dental practice somewhere
in Finland. For many students, the touch
point of the simulation units forms a pivotal
experience in their learning outcomes.
"If we could decide ourselves, we would
probably extend the dental curriculum by
another six months, so we could focus
more on the latest and future technologies.
However, since this is not possible, we are
determined to find other ways to keep our
fingers on the pulse and keep up with the
development of digital dentistry,” Kämppi
added.
By incorporating software in the pre-clinical
learning environment, Kämppi found a
solution to provide student with the learning
objectives desired. The Planmeca Romexis
software is available at every simulation unit,
which allows students to view x-ray images
directly at their units. This streamlines the
teaching of different dental specialties
utilising radiology.
In the skills laboratory, students also learn to
capture intraoral images with two Planmeca
ProX intraoral imaging simulation cabinets.
The images captured with the intraoral x-ray
are then available on any workstation in the
skills laboratory. Six Planmeca Emerald S
intraoral scanners are also actively used in the
teaching of digital workflows. The scanners
combined with Romexis software have proven
useful for self-evaluation.
"Our students can prep a tooth, scan it
with Planmeca Emerald S and analyse
the preparation in Romexis, comparing
their results with an example preparation.
The students can always discuss their
performance with a teacher, too, but ideally,
Romexis helps them analyse the scans by
themselves and spot the areas in which
tissue still needs to be removed,” Kämppi
explained.
NEW DIMENSIONS ERGONOMICS
AND TEACHING
Compact instrument consoles, usability, and
adaptability to suit different learning scenarios
and preferences were some of the reasons
why Planmeca Compact iSim simulation units
were selected for the skills laboratory.
The units allows working both in sitting
and standing positions and offers good
ergonomics for both right- and left-handed
users for students to adopt correct working
ergonomics. The height and angle of the
monitor can be flexibly adjusted, and the
phantom heads of the simulation units move
the same way real heads do.
"Good ergonomics is something we pay
attention to from day one, even if some of our
students would rather focus fully on dental
procedures and consider ergonomics only
after they have mastered different techniques
with their hands. But it is always difficult to get
rid of the habits you have already gotten used
to, so learning good ergonomics from the getgo
actually makes practising dentistry much
more comfortable in the long run,” explains
Jaana Rautava, Assoc Prof and head of Dental
Undergraduate Programme.
For many students, the touch point of the
simulation units forms a pivotal experience in
their learning outcomes.