SE Dallas News

Posted on January 30, 2023 at 9:12 am.

Shared by Steven Lee

Promoting improved patient care, community learning, social impact 

The UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry has entered into partnership with the Straumann Group, a world leader in implant components and digital equipment and services, to establish a patient treatment center housing a comprehensive array of cutting-edge technological advancements.

The center, the most complete of its kind nationwide, is providing the very latest in patient care while also supporting community learning for students, graduate residents, local practicing dentists and lab technicians. And it also comes with a donation of equipment from Straumann that will be used to provide dental implant treatment for vulnerable patient populations.

“The acquisition of all this equipment demonstrates the school’s and university’s commitment to providing our patients with the most advanced treatments,” said Richard Zimmermann, DDS, BS, clinical associate professor of comprehensive dentistry at the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry. “And at the same time, this dedicated clinical technology center provides the dental community a place they can learn new and emerging technologies and workflows to improve patient care.”

“It will offer the most forward-thinking technology that exists in the profession,” said Micaela Gibbs, DDS, MHA, chief dental officer at UT Dentistry, the dental school’s clinical practice. “And the partnership will position UT Dentistry as a leader in the development of new digital applications in treatment of the most complex cases.”

The scope of the collaboration is unique among academic dental institutions nationally – from providing innovative learning and patient care to the social impact of helping communities in need. Only three academic practices were selected by Straumann for partnership – including also Tufts and Harvard universities – with UT Health San Antonio’s as the most comprehensive setup, and the first in operation.

“This is an educational initiative, but it also has a potentially huge community impact,” Gibbs said. “For many individuals, dental implants that are key to restoring chewing function and aesthetics necessary for improved quality of life are largely unobtainable due to cost. This partnership allows them access to the highest levels of dental care while also enhancing the knowledge base of dental practitioners in a hands-on setting.”

A pioneer in digital dentistry

UT Dentistry already is the region’s most comprehensive dental practice, where patients receive care from experienced dentists, renowned specialists, advanced graduate residents or dental students overseen by faculty of the state’s top-ranked dental school.

The school has been a pioneer in digital dentistry, both academically and clinically.

The term digital dentistry refers to the use of computer technologies and devices that incorporate digital or computer-controlled components to perform procedures, in favor of traditional mechanical or electrical tools. It also can be used to model what a completed procedure might look like, providing the patient with more understanding of their dental treatment overall.

In 2019, the school made significant investments in digital infrastructure, allowing for chair-side acquisition of digitally scanned information necessary to make crowns, bridges, implant restorations and dentures in an on-site digital laboratory. This allows student, resident and faculty to provide clinical dental care that is less invasive, less expensive and more patient-centered.

That investment in advanced digital technology placed UT Dentistry in a prime position to partner with Swiss-based Straumann, a manufacturer and supplier of products and services to the dental profession in more than 100 countries.

“They came to us because of our infrastructure, to be a showcase and training center of excellence to highlight their new equipment and technologies,” Gibbs said. “It really puts us in a place where we’re head and shoulders above other academic dental institutions.”

The best of corporate collaboration

By leveraging Straumann’s existing partnerships with innovative technology leaders, the school acquired a highly versatile milling machine capable of producing crowns, bridges and implant-supported prostheses that provide exceptional functional and aesthetic results for its patients. This unit integrates with the latest software and 3-D scanning capability to further enhance the aesthetics and success of large rehabilitative cases.

Other integrated components include 3-D printers for planning guides to be used during implant surgeries and treatment-planning software, all of which lead to improved care for patients receiving complex dental care.

“We have purchased and Straumann has donated a significant amount of new technology so our school can serve to not only educate our own residents and

students, but also train dentists from the community in the provision of care using the most advanced technology,” said Peter M. Loomer, DDS, PhD, the school’s dean. “It has the potential to really change the way we teach not only our trainees but also community dentists. It highlights the best of a corporate collaboration.”

The school is formulating details on how donation of equipment will be used to help vulnerable patients.

“The partnership reinforces our school’s ongoing commitment to providing cutting-edge learning opportunities that improve the dental health of our community while providing exceptional and innovative patient care that serves as a model for the profession,” Loomer said.

The new center is located at UT Dentistry’s Center for Oral Health Care and Research at 8210 Floyd Curl Drive in San Antonio.

Original source can be found here.