New Digital Lab

College Opens New Digital Lab

3D Solutions @ OU Dentistry, a digital lab on the forefront of innovative technology, opened its doors at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry on the Health Sciences Center campus in early August.

The lab provides enhanced workflows and technology services to the Health Sciences Center campus, including virtual designs and planning, scanning, 3D printing and computer-controlled milling. Examples include dental crowns, splints and dentures for needs within the dental school and various educational and surgical projects for campus departments.

With the most advanced technology, 3D prints can take as little as 45 to 60 minutes, depending on size. Another added benefit of 3D Solutions @ OU Dentistry is that costs are significantly less than using outside companies because the lab is housed right on campus. Clients also have the benefit of being able to meet face-to-face with the team of prosthodontists who supervise the lab.

Currently, residents and graduate students in the postdoctoral programs have access to the lab and use it on a daily basis, reducing chair time for their patients. Faculty members also have access to the lab and use the 3D materials for courses, giving students a unique hands-on experience they wouldn’t have at other dental schools.

“The digital lab not only gives us the opportunity to provide our faculty with modern teaching materials for our students but provides our students with the knowledge and resources to treat their patients more efficiently,” said Raymond A. Cohlmia, D.D.S., dean of the college, said.

Eventually, the college would like to incorporate the use of the machines permanently into the curriculum, creating digital dental technology courses where students would be trained extensively to use all types of dental technology. The combination of the digital lab and digital dental technology courses will mark the OU College of Dentistry as one of the first dental schools in the United States to teach technology at this level.

Although it may seem the lab popped up overnight, it took several months of extensive research, meetings and brainstorming sessions for 3D Solutions @ OU Dentistry to become a reality. Months before the digital lab opened, Dr. Cohlmia formulated the Digital Dentistry Task Force to start the conversation of integrating technology into the curriculum. The purpose of the task force is to evaluate, design and aid in the implementation of the digital technologies throughout the college for the benefit of the profession, the college’s curriculum, academia, research and other business opportunities. Yacoub Al Sakka, D.D.S., assistant professor in the Division of Prosthodontics, was appointed chair of the task force and Director of Digital Dental Technologies. Part of his role includes overseeing 3D Solutions @ OU Dentistry. From there, subcommittee members created a plan to open a new digital lab within the College of Dentistry.

“Across the HSC campus, several departments have shown interest in our lab and several others have started using 3D Solutions @ OU Dentistry for collaborative research projects and patient treatments,” said Dr. Al Sakka. “Our vision is to become a leader both on campus and across Oklahoma. We want the lab to be utilized by all dental and medical professionals across the state.”

3D Solutions @ OU Dentistry Open House To promote the new lab, the college hosted an open house and reception in last July to both college and campus leaders. At the open house, visitors had opportunities to tour the space and see demonstrations of the different machines in the lab.