DUCU: a conceptual framework for AI-driven conversion of smile design to functional wax-up

With the rapid evolution of esthetic digital dentistry, patient-centered tools were developed, such as digital smile design, to help improve patient communication and emotional participation. However, a major difference remains between these purely aesthetic simulations and the functional accuracy necessary with computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing restorative workflows. In this paper, we present the conceptual basis for a new, intelligent, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) wax-up design theory called Dental Unified CAD Utility (DUCU). This platform includes advanced artificial intelligence algorithms for tooth morphology, margin detection, intaglio surface generation, and occlusal correspondence, to combine emotional aesthetics with clinical function. Through facilitation of interdisciplinary teamwork and automation of restorative design workflows, Dental Unified CAD Utility sets out to drastically decrease laboratory time, reduce human errors, and boost treatment predictability. We describe implications and barriers to clinical implementation and future research directions necessary for the development and validation of the DUCU as a transformative tool in digital prosthodontics.