DIGITAL PLANNING FOR THE PREPARATION OF HARD DENTAL TISSUES FOR PROSTHETIC RESTORATIONS

Objective. To develop and provide clinical substantiation for a method of manufacturing an individual navigation template for the preparation of dental hard tissues. Materials and Methods. The development of the navigation template utilized the following: cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT); plaster and digital models of dental arches; a Shining 3D AutoScan DS-EX Pro (H) 3D scanner; licensed software packages including Exocad, Blender 3D, and T-FLEX CAD. Interpretation of CBCT data allowed for the determination of minimum safe thicknesses for preserving peri-pulpal dentin. The digital model of the dentition was superimposed with CBCT data to visualize pulp topography. A 3D model of a dental bur, selected prior to preparation, was created. Based on these integrated data, the transition to the three-dimensional planning of tissue preparation was carried out. Results. The article presents a methodology for planning tooth preparation using the aforementioned 3D modeling software. The outcome of this planning process is a navigation template for the preparation of dental hard tissues. Its key advantage lies in enabling controlled reduction of hard tissues through the use of guide slots and depth-limiting stops. These elements stabilize the dental bur in three planes and ensure a strictly predetermined trajectory of its movement, thereby minimizing inaccuracies during tissue reduction. Conclusion. The described method increases the likelihood of preserving tooth vitality during prosthetic treatment with an artificial crown. This is achieved by minimizing the volume of tissue prepared and maintaining the minimum required thickness of peri-pulpal dentin through the use of the navigation template. This approach aligns with the modern principles of minimally invasive dentistry. Consequently, the method presented in this article contributes to a favorable long-term prognosis for the prosthetic treatment.