AR and MR in Dentistry: Developments, Applications, and Prospects

Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) are cutting-edge technologies that are substantially impacting digital dentistry. These innovations not only propel dentistry into the digital age, but also introduce novel, non-invasive, and immersive treatment methodologies. This review collates and summarizes the latest developments and applications of AR and MR in digital dentistry. In contemporary practice, digital information, such as CT scans, is predominantly used for presurgical verification. However, integrating patients digital 3D information into real-world environments through AR and MR allows dental professionals to visualize diagnostic and therapeutic data using a Head-Mounted Display (HMD). This integration enhances not only efficiency and safety, but also elevates surgical training. Despite these benefits, further enhancements are required for these technologies to achieve broader acceptance in clinical dentistry. In this review, we have dedicated a separate section discussing the prospective applications and future directions of AR and MR, including optimizing HMD technology, developing intraoperative feedback navigation technology, advancing human-machine interaction (HMI) technology, and improving soft-tissue visualization technology. The literature suggests that AR and MR applications are particularly advantageous in dentistry, despite some limitations. With ongoing developments in areas such as haptics and robotics, it is expected that AR and MR will become increasingly integral to dental practices in the near future.