Dentistry is moving beyond its usual boundaries with the rapid development of digital technologies. From diagnostic methods to treatment planning, from patient experience to clinical practice, technology is transforming both the quality and dimension of our profession. This book aims to address the reflections of digital transformation on dentistry from different perspectives. Sometimes a software that facilitates diagnosis, sometimes a device that optimizes the treatment process, sometimes a virtual environment that offers a completely different learning experience in education… All these developments are not only tools but also a change in understanding. Medical knowledge and digital competencies are now considered together and modern dentistry is made possible by the combination of these two powers. Thus, treatment processes are faster and more reliable, clinical accuracy increases, and the number of appointments decreases. While patients experience a more comfortable process, physicians can offer more ideal and customized solutions. Digital devices, which replace traditional methods in production processes, enable fast and precise production, digital designs are transformed into physical objects, clinical and laboratory processes are accelerated and the risk of complications is reduced. Compared to traditional methods, earlier and more accurate diagnoses are made, thus increasing both patient satisfaction and the effectiveness of treatment protocols.

Digitalization is also revolutionizing the fields of health and education. This leads to a more interactive and motivating learning process. These technologies enable complex clinical information to be presented in a more understandable way and prepare future dentists for digital practices. However, for all these technological developments to be used effectively, the knowledge, experience and attentiveness of physicians is still the most decisive factor. Only when digital tools are combined with these professional qualifications can successful functional and aesthetic results be achieved.

I would like to sincerely thank all the authors who contributed to the creation of this book. Each of them has made valuable contributions in their field by sharing their knowledge and guiding this work. I hope that this book will inspire students, academicians and all my colleagues in search of innovation.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Esra KUL
Atatürk University, Faculty Dentistry,
Department of Prosthodontics,
Erzurum, Türkiye