“We believe
in compre-
hensive knowledge”
Imagine you have a completely unique antique clock with a flawed mechanical construction and appearance. The parts for this clock are not available, as it is completely unique. If you want to restore the original condition, all missing parts must be individually designed and manufactured. The aesthetic restoration must be carried out using the modern materials currently available to us, in such a way that they are in perfect harmony with the original materials and faithfully reproduce the rich past features they contain.
To get the clock to always show the correct time again, not just twice a day, you need the knowledge and precision of an engineer. First, we need to understand how the mechanism works so that we can design and manufacture the missing parts.
To restore the clock to its former glory, it is essential to have the sense of form and skill of a sculptor, as well as the colour theory knowledge and experience of a painter. All this is to ensure that the restoration remains true to the original down to the smallest detail.
Well, in dental technology we do something like this. Each restoration is completely unique and individualised.
In addition to restoring the chewing function, our task is to reproduce the mechanical and highly complex light conducting properties of the natural tooth with artificial materials. In addition to knowledge of materials and production technology, we need anatomical and gnathological knowledge, a sculptor’s sense of form and a painter’s observations of light. All of this must be applied with engineering precision, because the accuracy of our replacements can be within a tolerance of a few hundredths of a millimetre.
As our profession evolves, so does the range of materials and technologies available. Digital technologies (CAD/CAM, 3D printing, digital colour analysis, etc…) are only tools. They can make the technician’s job easier, but they cannot replace the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to produce quality replacements.