PITTSBURGH — The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine has opened three new digital dentistry laboratories designed to give students and residents hands-on experience with advanced dental technologies while improving care for patients.
The new facilities integrate digital dentistry into preclinical education, clinical training and specialty care under a shared digital infrastructure. Faculty leaders say this approach mirrors how modern private practices and high-end dental laboratories operate.
“Pitt Dental Medicine’s new digital dentistry labs represent a bold step into the future of dentistry,” said Robert Nerone, DMD, vice chair and assistant professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Comprehensive Care. He added that the labs are embedded in both the curriculum and patient care to transform how students are educated and how patients are treated.
According to Suvendra Vijayan, M.S., MPH, assistant professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences, few U.S. dental schools offer fully integrated digital centers that support preclinical, clinical and advanced workflows in one system. He said the Pitt initiative is among the first to deliver a multi-level digital workflow in dental education.
The digital laboratories are expected to expand treatment options for patients. Digital workflows can reduce human error, increase precision and shorten turnaround times for restorations such as crowns, bridges and dentures. Digital records and designs also improve communication among dentists, lab technicians and patients, enabling more personalized and esthetic outcomes.
“This is not just about equipment,” Vijayan said. “It’s about training future-ready dentists who are skilled in intraoral scanning, CAD, 3D printing and chairside milling, while providing faster and more efficient care.”
The three new laboratories serve different stages of training. The Preclinic Lab allows first- and second-year students to practice scanning and design using CAD/CAM software on 3D oral models. The General Dentistry Practice Lab supports third- and fourth-year students in delivering digitally produced restorations for patients under faculty supervision. The Resident and Specialty Practice Lab enables dental residents to manage complex cases, refine advanced techniques and contribute to clinical research.
University officials say the labs position Pitt Dental Medicine at the forefront of digital dental education while enhancing care for the community.