Digital smile design and AI advance dental technology

At the 55th SEPES Congress in Málaga, dental professionals highlighted the integration of artificial intelligence and digital smile design in modern dentistry. This technology allows for 3D facial scanning and virtual recreations of a patient's mouth, enabling dentists to predict treatment outcomes and improve precision in planning.

Guillermo Pradíes, president of the Spanish Society of Stomatological and Aesthetic Prosthetics (SEPES), noted that AI, robotics, and digitalization are transforming the field by making interventions faster and more predictable. These advancements shift tasks like manual wax modeling by laboratory technicians toward more accurate virtual simulations for both removable and fixed prosthetics.

In contrast to these technological leaps, experts also warn of the risks associated with purely aesthetic trends. Dental professionals emphasize that ethical treatment must prioritize preserving healthy tooth tissue, as enamel cannot regenerate. Excessive grinding of healthy teeth for veneers or crowns can lead to long-term complications, including sensitivity, fractures, nerve inflammation, and the eventual need for more extensive restorations.