Tech. Sgt. Bryan Lichty is one the laboratory’s senior technicians.
“The Wright-Patt Dental Laboratory takes traditional methods a step further using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing techniques. By utilizing high-definition optical scans of a patient’s teeth, we are able to digitize teeth and jaw structures to digitally design a variety of dental appliances, which can then be manufactured with 3-D printing or milling,” said Lichty.
The laboratory now makes digital implant drill guides, appliances that guide the dentist’s drill while placing an implant in depth and angulation. By combining traditional methods with 3-dimensional X-rays or Cone Beam Computed Tomography, surgical teams can virtually place an implant exactly where it will be most clinically successful.
The dental lab is then able to design and 3-D print an implant guide for optimal angulation and depth. This technique not only saves fabrication time and materials for lab technicians but results in faster surgeries and improved surgical outcomes for the prescribing dentists.
The WPMC Dental Lab has also implemented a digital workflow to replace one of the most time-consuming and tedious processes in the laboratory: making complete dentures. A first in the Air Force Materiel Command, the dental lab developed a process utilizing optical scans of a patient’s dentition to digitally design and 3-D print dentures.
The new process provides a product comparable to a traditional denture in fit, esthetics and longevity but requires a fraction of the time. Additionally, the ability to fabricate traditional dentures requires years to master, while the digital workflow can be easily learned by new or seasoned lab techs. The digital files can also be saved so patients who lose their dentures can have a replacement set made with no additional appointments.
The advantages of transitioning to a digital lab are becoming increasingly clear.
“For the majority of cases, digital innovation has increased our efficiency by at least 50 percent,” said Lichty.
The Dental Lab team recently shared their new skills and knowledge as instructors at the Area Dental Laboratory Tri-Service Symposium, impacting six DENCOMs, five fleets and seven different MAJCOMs across the armed services. In addition to teaching courses, the team has also helped launch digital lab capabilities at four other locations.
“We physically outfitted and equipped four additional dental laboratories with our digital capabilities and techniques, and provided information and assistance to the entire career field comprised of 76 Air Force dental laboratories, including our Technical Training Schoolhouse where 216 DoD students receive their foundational training annually,” said Lichty.
The accomplishments of the dental lab team at WPMC have already been recognized with multiple Medical Group and Wing Innovation awards. They are led by their Flight Chief, Master Sgt. Vladimir Roman, and their officer In charge, Maj. William Slack. Their vision is to transform the way the Air Force practices dentistry and hopefully create a legacy where innovation and teamwork are at the heart.
Dental Laboratory Team members include Maj. William Slack, Master Sgt. Vladimir Roman, Tech. Sgt. Katlyn Dumancas, Tech. Sgt. Bryan Lichty, Tech. Sgt. Porter Ostler, Staff Sgt. Jacob Grimes, Staff Sgt. Eleanor Osterman, Richard Usserman and Mike Pourbaix.
About the Author