Dental technology is advancing rapidly in dentistry. Computers are making what were previously manual tasks easier, faster and more predictable. However, dentists who want to use the technology often do not have the time or knowledge to understand it. A basic knowledge of the digital workflow for dental restorations and implant dentistry can help dentists to manipulate the technology, and purchase a CAD/CAM system that meets the needs of their clinic. In this presentation, we will discuss the relation of dental technologies, digital workflow, and the final customized digital treatment protocols. Some clinicians may think they fully understand the digital workflow when they only purchase one kind of digital technology, such as intra-oral scanner. However, the complete digital workflow composed of various digital technologies, with both hardware and software, material science and dental technology. Fully digital workflow is based around four elements, namely, data acquisition, data processing with Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Computer-Aid Manufacturer (CAM), and the final laboratory surface veneering processes. There is various data capture equipment in dental clinic, the most common are the Cone-beam CT. The output DICOM file can easily be processed by most software. The 3D facial profile can also be captured with 3D camera. The output STL file can be used for surgical or cosmetic planning, together with the Cone-beam CT data. For dental tissue 3D data, we can capture directly by intra-oral scanner, or indirectly by scanning physical dental model by model scanner. Digital impression will be detailed discussed in other presentations. Various CAD software are available for orthognathic surgery, such as Materialise SurgiCase. Implant planning software, for example, SimPlant, NobelClinician, 3Shape Implant Studio, are available for surgical templates in implant guided surgery. Now many software packages available for the design of dental restorations, such as veneers, crowns, bridges and implant prostheses. A further development in the CAD/CAM technology used in dentistry, is the transition from closed to open access systems. The most common closed systems are the NobelProcera, Sirona CEREC. Open systems such as ExoCAD, 3Shape, Dental Wings, Sirona inLab, open up access to a much wider range of manufacturing techniques, and associated materials can be selected. Moreover, there is a third-party software for the data transformation amongst open or closed system. This may be useful for commercial lab or larger group clinics with digital dentistry. Computer Aided Manufacturing in digital workflow divided into two chains: Additive Manufacturing and Subtractive Manufacturing. That is, 3D printing and Milling. There are several kinds of 3D printers available in the market, namely, conventional stereolithography, more common PolyJet and, the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), and Direct Metal Laser Sintering for metal printing. One of the largest 3D printer companies, Stratasys, produces two kinds of 3D printers, the FDM and PolyJet. The precision of FDM is up to 50µm, whereas the PolyJet within 10µm accuracy. And thus, PolyJet 3D printer is commonly used in dentistry. So, what we will print for the digital workflow? We will print surgery planning models for treatment planning or illustrations for the patients. Some surgical models are printed for surgical hands-on training. Medical tools and device prototypes was printed to assess the surgical use feasibility before the final milling production. In this case, a zygoma implant extended drill guide was made. This implant surgical guide was printed with biocompatible materials. If the data acquisition is captured by digital impression, the physical models have to be produced by 3D printing. Conventional crown and bridges models, implant models with special use implant analogue are printed. In orthodontic cases, the quality of the 3D printed models are far superior to the stone models. For Subtractive Manufacturing, the simple crown, abutment can be milled by simple in-house milling machine. If the clinic with in-house dental lab, more comprehensive dental prostheses can be produced by the in-house 5-axis milling machine. Hard metals or fully sintered zirconia can be milled by industrial-level milling machine. After CAM production, the final veneering will be done by dental technicians. Materials involved usually are acrylic or porcelain work or surface stain only, depends on the prostheses designs. After understanding different kinds of dental technologies, let's see how those things formulate our daily digital workflow. Many digital workflow can be customized and formulated for crown and bridge work, implant guided surgery, implants prostheses, orthodontics treatment, and maxillofacial surgery. This is the simplest digital workflow for single crown or implant abutment in daily practice by CEREC. Data acquisition by digital impression, crown or abutment was designed by build-in software. Ceramics milled by in-house milling machine, and then final veneering process by dental technicians. For implant-guided surgery digital workflow, even the same treatment, different CAD/CAM systems have different digital workflow. For example, the closed system NobelGuide workflow the surgical guide was produced by NobelBiocare. The open system features 3Shape Implant Studio workflow, the surgical guide can be fabricated by 3D printing. Moreover, the Sirona CEREC Guide workflow, the surgical guide was fabricated by milling PMMA. Different systems have their own advantages and disadvantages, so we can consolidate those systems and customize our own clinic workflow for guided implant surgery. The most common use is the Implant Prostheses Digital Workflow. Implant models are scanned by the model scanners and CAD by different software, in-house milling or outsource to milling centers afterward. And again final veneering process by dental technicians. Some dental technologies and equipment can also formulate the digital workflow for orthodontic and maxillofacial surgery treatments. Each workflow is governed by detailed treatment protocols. Patient treatment may involve several digital workflows for example implant guided surgery workflow and implant prostheses workflow for immediate loading, Then customized treatment protocols can be formulated. Here is an example for part of the treatment protocol for full implant prostheses workflow. There are several bottlenecks in full digital workflow. 1. Initial investment for the equipment for various digital technologies. 2. Manpower and the learning curve to manipulate the technology. 3. The workflow itself has limitations, especially in closed systems. 4. The choice of materials. Full understanding of material science is important in digital dentistry. For the take-home message, Determine the scope of digital work in dental practice. Digital technologies formulate the customized digital workflow. Experts with knowhow for CAD, data processing and manufacturing (AM & SM) to link up the digital chains. Formulate strict treatment protocols to maintain the accuracy of all digital technologies within the digital workflow. Keep update and review the latest digital technologies to optimize your own digital workflow. We hope these overviews have helped you in understanding digital workflow in relation to implant dentistry. Thanks for watching. Goodbye.