Welcome to the EADT eV TEAM Talk #8, "Virtual Planning – Visualization in Prosthetic Consulting." Are digital tools a game changer? That's the core question of TEAM Talk #8. And for those expecting a clear answer… as is so often the case in life: there is no single right answer. One thing is clear: digital transformation is changing prosthetic planning – and at a rapid pace. The TEAM Talk tackled this exciting balancing act. For those who couldn't attend live: The recording is now available as video-on-demand.
AI and VR: Game Changer or Overengineering?
AI-supported tools, virtual reality, and new visualization technologies are increasingly shaping digital contours—time to take a closer look. TEAM Talk #8, "Virtual Planning," focused on the balance between efficient digitalization and excessive mechanization. The central question: Which technologies are currently proving their worth in everyday practice and laboratory work, and where might less be more? The discussion between participants from dental practices, dental laboratories, and universities revealed that the role of dental technology expertise and clinical experience remains indispensable in increasingly digitalized planning. It also became clear that AI appears to be ubiquitous, but its concrete impact on everyday dental and dental technology practice is not yet always tangible.
Visualization in patient counseling: New dimensions, new challenges
Modern visualization tools already support the planning of prosthetic restorations. Tools such as SmileCloud, which visualize harmonious treatment proposals based on biometric data, create a completely new basis for consultations. The advantage for the practice-laboratory team is that patients can view potential results photorealistically at an early stage. At the same time, a challenge emerged: the risk of unrealistic patient expectations due to overly perfect visualizations. Without a physical mock-up and a comparison between the visualization and the actual implementation, no definitive commitments should be made. This is also supported by the statements of the two experts Irena Sailer and Vincent Fehmer at our TEAM-Talk special in November 2024.
TEAM Talk #8: The Video
Did you miss TEAM Talk #8 "Virtual Planning" or would you like to delve deeper into specific aspects? The complete recording is available here as a free video-on-demand.
A note on the philosophy of EADT eV: Our high-quality content and formats, such as the TEAM Talk, are deliberately freely accessible. This is made possible solely by our membership fees and the voluntary commitment of our board. Anyone who appreciates this work and would like to support it can find information about membership. here.
Color communication in focus: Paradigm shift?
A promising approach for the often delicate color communication is the AI-supported system Matisse AIThis solution could revolutionize shade communication. The system creates specific shade recipes based on AI. The integrated Delta E value serves as an objective quality indicator. Practical experience with the system has been surprisingly positive. Even in "blind flights" where the dental technician did not see the patient, excellent results were achieved with the AI-generated recipes. The system provides detailed instructions for all layering steps. Combining such tools with AI support could significantly improve the workflow between the practice and the laboratory.
Virtual Planning: Team-based approach
The TEAM Talk discussion highlighted a crucial aspect: Digital transformation strengthens the partnership between dental practices and dental laboratories. It opens up new avenues of communication and supports joint decision-making processes – provided both sides meet on equal terms. For both sides of the prosthetic care chain, teamwork remains the key success factor – especially in times of skilled labor shortages and rising patient expectations.
Economic efficiency and practical implementation
An important point of discussion also concerned economic aspects: How can investments in digital planning tools be amortized? How can technology-supported consulting services be adequately compensated? These questions concern practices and laboratories alike and were openly discussed in a trusting atmosphere. Furthermore, workflows and preparation forms were examined in the context of digital planning tools. The minimally invasive approach is gaining increasing importance and is supported by precise digital planning. Patient expectations, which arise from high-gloss visualizations, must also be managed realistically to avoid disappointment.
Outlook: The sweet spots between innovation and tradition
The TEAM Talk "Virtual Planning" impressively demonstrated that the digital transformation of prosthetic consulting offers enormous opportunities – the sweet spot lies in the intelligent balance between technological innovation and proven craftsmanship. If you missed TEAM Talk #8, you can watch the recording here.
TEAM Talk: A forum for everyone
The next TEAM Talk is already in the starting blocks: On March 27, 2025, the TEAM Talk IDS Special will take place live from the trade fair – a format that has established itself in the past as a valuable trend sensor for practice and laboratories. Further information can be found here: