The Role of Digital Imaging in Modern Dentistry: Enhancing Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

Abstract

Digital imaging has surely resurfaced dentistry as an extremely modern practice, thereby increasing diagnostic and treatment-planning capabilities to a whole new level, thus enhancing patient care and clinical efficiency. This transition from film-based radiography to digital technologies, including digital radiography, intraoral cameras, cone-beam computed tomography, and intraoral scanners, has significantly improved diagnostic accuracy, reduced radiation dosage, and smoothed the workflow. Cone beam computed tomography has given a fillip to detailed 3D imaging in complex cases of implantology and orthodontics; intraoral scanners and CAD/CAM systems have come to enhance restorative accuracy. Even with some drawbacks persisting, this integration of artificial intelligence into dental medicine, or rather being at the threshold of new technologies such as augmented reality, augurs well for further development. This review has outlined the paradigm shift of digital imaging in various dental specialties and looks forward to future opportunities for maximizing its application in a clinical setup.