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Digital dentistry is changing the landscape of oral healthcare. For the  at UT San Antonio, this evolution is reflected in modernized curriculum initiatives, hands-on clinical training and comprehensive faculty development. Under the direction of , director of digital dentistry and assistant professor/clinical, the school is building a cohesive, modern digital ecosystem designed to equip dental students with the tools and confidence needed for today’s technology-driven dental landscape.

“This isn’t just about technology,” Escobar said. “Digital dentistry enhances clinical decision-making, supports precision and predictability and elevates the patient experience. It is about transforming the way we teach and practice dentistry.”
 

Equipping future dentists with advanced digital skills

The School of Dentistry’s digital efforts focus on providing students with progressive, hands-on experiences using key tools, including intraoral scanners, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software, digital design systems and 3D printing.

From early preclinical courses to clinical care, dental students are increasingly exposed to digital workflows as part of their preparation for real-world practice.

“Our goal is for every student to become completely competent and confident using these technologies and digital tools,” Escobar emphasized. “When students graduate, we want them to feel ready to step into any practice and immediately contribute.”

The School of Dentistry has recently acquired the latest generation of high-speed 3D printers, enhancing its digital production capabilities with remarkable efficiency and accuracy. According to Escobar, these printers significantly reduce fabrication time, from more than three hours to approximately 30 minutes. The upgraded technology is already being used to print 3D diagnostic models for motivational and functional wax-ups, giving students and faculty new opportunities to visualize, plan and refine treatment outcomes with greater precision.

Beyond speed, the technology unlocks new possibilities for innovative workflows in dentures, provisionals and more, supporting both faculty exploration and student and resident training, all while providing higher-quality care for patients.

“Most of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residents apply to this program specifically because they want to learn digital dentistry, and we house the latest, cutting-edge technology,” shared , director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Program. “Digital dentistry has made us more precise than ever before. Patients recover sooner, and treatments are performed more efficiently.”

Successfully teaching digital dentistry to students and residents begins with empowering faculty to feel confident in guiding their students through new digital workflows. Over the past year, Dean , has supported this investment in faculty training by sponsoring all faculty members to participate in the  course, “From Scan to Design”, taught by Escobar. This course is designed to have faculty members calibrated in intraoral scanning and digital wax-ups, resulting in a shift toward the use of digital tools across the School of Dentistry. The demand for digital tools, including intraoral scanners, has grown so significantly that the school has expanded scanner access across both preclinical and clinical environments.

“Our goal as faculty is to become lifelong learners. Digital dentistry has enabled our faculty to teach more effectively because it is now more visual, and it has significantly reduced lab time. This allows us to allocate more time in the curriculum to focus on other concepts. Previously, printing and preparing stone models could take hours, but now that process is much faster, allowing us to spend more time discussing cases,” shared Sabbah.

Highlights of digital dentistry education integration

In collaboration with , assistant professor/clinical and course director of dental anatomy, students are now learning digital wax-up techniques using specialized design software. This complements traditional hand-skill development while introducing modern digital planning methods.

Working alongside , associate professor, and , assistant professor/clinical, second-year dental students gain their first hands-on experience with intraoral scanners. They scan their own tooth preparations on mannequins and then use software to evaluate margin quality, undercuts and clearance, providing them with immediate and self-guided feedback.

During the summer, before entering the patient care clinics for the first time, rising third-year dental students complete an eight-hour digital dentistry course taught by Escobar. The course combines lectures, hands-on scanning activities and digital wax-up design to ensure students enter the clinic with foundational skills and confidence.
 

Advancing a vision for digital dental education

Helping to guide this transformation at the School of Dentistry is the Digital Dentistry Committee, chaired by , associate professor and assistant dean for student affairs. The committee includes representatives from every dental specialty along with key faculty leaders in predoctoral education, including Drs. Escobar, Sabbah, Bonilla, Villarreal, , assistant professor/clinical, , clinical associate professor, , Chair of the Department of Predoctoral Dental Education, , associate dean of patient care and associate professor/clinical, and others. Together, they evaluate technology, review curriculum integration opportunities and align digital advancements across the school.

“Digital dentistry isn’t just the future of our profession, it is the standard of care our patients deserve. At our institution, we are committed to fully integrating these innovations so that every graduate leaves not only as a strong clinician, but as a leader prepared to shape the next generation of dental care,” shared Hachem.

Dental students have also embraced digital dentistry beyond the classroom through , a student-led club focused on digital dentistry. Supported by faculty mentors, the club connects students with hands-on workshops, industry experts, research opportunities and lectures. Most recently, Zimmermann, a renowned expert in digital dentistry, hosted a workshop on digital workflow and 3D printing, and reviewed software basics and how to print models efficiently. 

Escobar’s passion for digital dentistry began during his AEGD residency at the school, where he trained under Sabbah, using some of the most advanced technologies available. Now, as a faculty member and director, he continues to pay that forward.

“I’m deeply grateful to the school, my colleagues and our students for their support,” he said. “This work is about building a program that will continue to grow and position our school as a national leader in digital dental education.”