School of Dental Medicine hosts second Digital Dentistry and AI Symposium

The New Age of Dentistry: Far Beyond Traditional Practice

Hosted By: Department of Comprehensive Care

On Sept. 18–19, Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine welcomed over 50 alumni, faculty, students and global experts for its 2nd Digital Dentistry and Artificial Intelligence Symposium.

Organized by the Department of Comprehensive Care under the leadership of Chair Ilser Turkyilmaz, DMD, PhD, the two-day event explored how cutting-edge technology is reshaping the future of clinical practice and dental education.

Interim School of Dental Medicine Dean Dale Baur kicked off the symposium, setting a collaborative tone for two days centered on innovation. "Patients are the reason we do this work, and they are the reason we are gathered here today," said Baur. "This symposium is, above all, about better patient care—about how these tools can improve precision, strengthen learning, reduce stress in practice and ultimately help us deliver better outcomes for the people who count on us."

Attendees participated in presentations and live demonstrations covering the latest breakthroughs in the field, including:

• Digital full-arch and guided surgery workflows: Advanced facial scanning, digital smile design, pre-surgical fabrication and robotic navigation systems.
• AI-driven education and clinical decision-making: The application of virtual patients, automated diagnostics and data-driven planning in both academic and practice settings.

As digital workflows, automation, and AI rapidly redefine modern healthcare, events like this symposium serve as an essential bridge between emerging technologies and practical, everyday application.

Speakers' talks emphasized that technological adoption is not merely about replacing traditional methods—it is about elevating patient-centered care. When thoughtfully integrated, digital tools improve precision, streamline clinical workflows, reduce practitioner stress and ultimately drive better patient outcomes.

This event was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors:

• Department of Comprehensive Care
• Roe Dental Laboratory
• Nobel Biocare
• Straumann

Thank you to all who attended, presented and helped organize this impactful event. We look forward to continuing to lead the way in dental innovation and education!