“Digital dentistry has transformed the way we diagnose, plan, communicate and deliver treatment”

Dental Tribune International

Fri. 17. April 2026

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At IDEM Singapore 2026, American Board-certified prosthodontist and oral rehabilitation specialist Dr Anas Aloum will discuss how digital workflows are reshaping everyday restorative and implant dentistry. Drawing on real-life cases and a full-day, hands-on workshop on photography, videography and artificial intelligence (AI) in smile design, he will share practical tips to enhance aesthetic outcomes and efficiency. In this interview with Dental Tribune International, he outlines his focus for Singapore.

IDEM Singapore 2026 speaker Dr Anas Aloum. (Image: Dr Anas Aloum)

Dr Aloum, IDEM is introducing you as an American Board-certified prosthodontist, oral rehabilitation specialist and digital smile design expert. Could you briefly outline your journey—from your training at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California to your current role at Hikma Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi—and how this background shapes the rehabilitation and aesthetic cases you treat today?
My professional journey began at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California, where I completed my specialty training in prosthodontics. The university’s strong emphasis on comprehensive rehabilitation, aesthetics, biomechanics and evidence-based care shaped my philosophy from the earliest stages of my career.

Following my board certification by the American Board of Prosthodontics, I returned to the Middle East to contribute to the advancement of digital prosthodontics in the region. Today, I serve as a consultant prosthodontist at Hikma Medical Center in Abu Dhabi, where I focus on complex full-mouth rehabilitation, implant prosthodontics and aesthetic dentistry.

My clinical practice integrates digital smile design principles, 3D facial analysis and fully guided workflows to restore function, health and confidence. This combination of high-level training and cutting-edge technology enables personalised, precise and predictable outcomes for every patient, including advanced implant cases, ultrathin veneers and multidisciplinary rehabilitations.

You lead a busy clinical and leadership role while working at the forefront of digital dentistry. In day-to-day practice, where do digital tools—such as intra-oral scanning, CAD/CAM, digital smile design, 3D imaging and chairside printing—deliver the greatest benefits for diagnosis, treatment planning and communication with patients and the laboratory team?
Digital dentistry has transformed the way we diagnose, plan, communicate and deliver treatment. It enables us to move from subjective interpretation towards measurable, visualised and repeatable precision. Intra-oral scanning enhances patient comfort and eliminates impression variables. 3D CBCT imaging improves risk assessment and prosthetically driven implant planning. CAD/CAM workflows reduce human error and deliver restorations with improved fit and efficiency. Digital smile design strengthens communication by allowing patients to visualise outcomes before treatment begins. Finally, chairside printing and milling can shorten treatment timelines and improve clinical control.

Perhaps the greatest benefit is enhanced collaboration: clinicians, technicians and patients are aligned around a clear and validated treatment vision. This digital synergy elevates the patient experience and clinical confidence simultaneously.

At IDEM 2026, you will deliver three lectures focusing on real cases and the implementation of digital technologies in practice. What are the main clinical themes you plan to cover, and what practical lessons do you hope prosthodontists and general practitioners will take home for their own digital workflows?
My IDEM 2026 sessions will focus heavily on real case documentation and the practical integration of digital advancements. Key clinical themes include fully guided implant protocols for long-term stability; aesthetic rehabilitation with minimally invasive principles; digital occlusion analysis and functional planning; decision-making algorithms for restorative material selection; and improving communication between surgeons, prosthodontists and laboratories.

Participants will leave with actionable workflows that can be applied immediately—step-by-step protocols, tips to reduce errors and strategies for elevating patient satisfaction while maintaining biological, mechanical and aesthetic longevity.

Not every practice finds it easy to move from analogue routines to fully integrated digital prosthodontic and implant workflows. From your experience teaching and mentoring dentists around the world, what are the most common obstacles, and how can clinicians tackle them in a realistic, stepwise way?
Transitioning from analogue to digital is a journey, not a switch. The most common obstacles I encounter include perceived high investment cost, skill gaps or limited access to training, team hesitation and resistance to change and workflow disruptions during early adoption.

“Transitioning from analogue to digital is a journey, not a switch.”

My recommendation is a phased implementation approach. Firstly, start small: begin with intra-oral scanning and photography as entry points. Secondly, build confidence: introduce digital design and guided workflows gradually. Thirdly, engage the team: empower staff with structured training and clear roles. It is also important to collaborate with strong laboratory partners. Finally, measure outcomes: track efficiency, remake rates and patient satisfaction. When clinicians witness the tangible improvements, digital dentistry becomes not just sustainable but indispensable.

Your full-day IDEM workshop will guide participants through smile design using photography, videography and artificial intelligence. Which specific skills and protocols will you focus on, and how can these be translated into more predictable, repeatable aesthetic outcomes in everyday cases?
The full-day workshop will be entirely hands-on and focus on clinical camera mastery, micro-expression analysis and AI-driven design. Participants will learn about standardised photography and videography protocols; facial reference system alignment and natural smile capture; integration of AI and digital mock-ups for treatment planning; communication frameworks for motivating patients and laboratories; and translating visual planning into accurate, guided execution. By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped with reproducible documentation methods and a practical smile-design workflow that elevates aesthetic success in everyday practice—not just in showcases.

IDEM 2026 is themed “Innovating Smart Dentistry for a Sustainable Digital Future” and brings together clinicians from across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and beyond. Which trends in aesthetic and implant prosthodontics do you expect to dominate discussions in Singapore, and what are your personal expectations for the event?
We are experiencing a global convergence of digital innovation with sustainability and accessibility. I expect major discussions in Singapore to centre around AI-enhanced prosthodontics and automated treatment planning, predictive implantology through data-driven diagnostics and material innovation balancing aesthetics, durability and biocompatibility. In addition, workflow miniaturisation and sustainable digital ecosystems that reduce waste and inefficiencies will likely be covered.

As a Singapore Dental Association Masterclass speaker, I look forward to sharing new frameworks and fostering collaboration across continents. As a participant, I am excited to learn from esteemed colleagues and contribute to shaping a future where technology serves clinicians, laboratories and—most importantly—our patients.

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