North Texas Dentistry Special Issue 2018 NTD SP ISSUE 2018 DE | Page 31

Dr. Druthil Belur, prostho-
dontics graduate student,
used an industrial optical 3D
measuring system with ties
to the automotive industry
in a novel way: to assess the
marginal and internal fit of
dental crowns.
he is invited to New York City to present his research to hundreds
of dentists and receive the 2018 Granger-Pruden Research Award
from the Northeastern Gnathological Society.
Within the academic research arena, use of 3D optical technology
is growing, says Belur’s thesis chair, Dr. William Nagy, professor in
the Department of Restorative Sciences.
“Newer techniques are a ‘proof of concept’ for evaluating emerging
technology and comparison to existing methods of fabrication,”
he says.
The dental school has employed 3D printing in other aspects of re-
search, including studies of bone regeneration. With the availability
of 3D printing in the college’s new clinical build technology — a
widespread trend in the profession – is expected to broaden.
The impetus for this is simple