Digital dentistry advancements and integration at UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry
The School of Dentistry at UT Health San Antonio is leading the way in dental education with its robust integration of digital dentistry into the predoctoral curriculum, providing students with hands-on training in cutting-edge technologies that are redefining modern dental care.
Under the leadership of Carlos Escobar, DDS, assistant professor/clinical and director of digital dentistry at the school, the program has expanded to include instruction across all four years of the dental curriculum. In collaboration with the Digital Dentistry Committee and dedicated faculty, this initiative aims to prepare students to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care using advanced digital tools.
A curriculum built for the future
Digital dentistry instruction begins in the first year, where students participate in three digital sessions integrated into the Dental Anatomy course. These include both didactic and hands-on experiences using Blue Sky Bio software for digital wax-up exercises. In a milestone for the school, first-year students recently completed the institution’s first-ever Digital Progress Assessment in Dental Anatomy.
In the second year, students continue their digital journey by training on TRIOS intraoral scanners. This phase focuses on refining their skills in digital impression-taking and the management of digital files—key competencies for contemporary dental practice.
Before entering their third-year clinical training, all students complete an intensive eight-hour Digital Dentistry course. Held at the Center for Oral Health Care and Research, this course includes lectures and practical training in intraoral scanning, digital design and 3D printing, all within a CAD/CAM workflow.
Faculty development and continuing education
To support consistency in instruction and evaluation, faculty members have undergone calibration sessions on the Blue Sky Bio software. These efforts ensure that both students and instructors are aligned in their understanding and application of digital tools.
Due to the program’s success within the dental school, members of the broader dental community have expressed interest in accessing these courses. In an exciting development, the program developers, in collaboration with the school’s Continuing Dental Education program, will soon offer digital dentistry courses for continuing education.
Going digital in geriatrics
Clinical integration of digital dentistry has expanded into UT Dentistry’s Geriatrics Clinic with the successful launch of the Geriatric Dentistry Digital Denture Workshop. Led by Geriatrics Clinic director Annetty Soto, DMD, Noorpreet Kaur, BDS, MPH, Vinaya Kundapur, BDS, MDS, and digital dentistry director Carlos Escobar, DDS. This innovative session introduces dental students to CAD/CAM denture workflows and 3D printing protocols tailored to older adults.
Students gain valuable hands-on experience with digital tools used to streamline denture fabrication, reducing the number of patient visits while enhancing clinical precision and care quality. The session emphasizes how digital innovation can make a significant difference for medically complex patients, including those with mobility limitations or cognitive impairments.
“Thank you to all the students and faculty who joined us in advancing geriatric dental education and care through innovation and compassion,” Dr. Soto shared following the first workshop.
Student success and adaptation
The transition to a digital-integrated curriculum has been met with impressive student performance. As the students gain comprehensive knowledge and practical experience in CAD/CAM systems, intraoral scanning and 3D printing to design and fabricate dental restorations, there is an emphasis on integrating digital workflows to improve their clinical efficiency and precision and patient outcomes.
“I am extremely proud of our students’ rapid adaptation to this new technology, and I am confident that we are advancing in the right direction for the future of dental education,” said Dr. Escobar.
Through this comprehensive approach, the School of Dentistry is equipping students to not only meet today’s clinical standards but also lead the next generation of innovation in oral health care.