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The concept of modeling; dental approach
Model and modeling are common terms amongst dental professionals. Perhaps, from the inception of modern dentistry, these terms have been used in many different forms and for various necessities. According to the "Glossary of prosthodontic terms" ([1] The Academy of Prosthodontics, 2005) (GPT 8), The term model has been used in dentistry since 1572 and defined as "a miniature representation of something; an example for imitation or emulation." Surprisingly, this term however, is not defined in medicine in the same manner. In Merriam-Webster's Medical Desk Dictionary ([2] model definition, 2008), the term model is defined as "to produce (as by computer) a representation or simulation of." One may be confused with this non-similarity in definition but, it is obvious that "emulation" and "simulation" are not the same. The spreading of engineering sciences in the medical/dental counterpart, made it possible to gain access to these two different disciplines and find good explanations and solutions for problems routinely involved in each methodology. It is a reality that dentistry, in its modern form, has been affected by the techniques utilized in other science methodologies such as mechanics, electronics, metallurgy, and many others. In view of this fact, several merging technologies have been evolved by utilizing both techniques in a wise manner. This multidisciplinary approach drastically improved sciences like prosthodontics and restorative dentistry in many aspects. Although merging different technologies were initially very beneficial but, soon after some conflict arose from interdisciplinary terms and this has affected dentistry. The term model is one of these interdisciplinary terms which are not defined with similarity.
Usually, models used in dentistry are made by impression making techniques in which some type of specially designed liquefy materials set in the mouth after a specific period of time. These materials, namely impression materials, commonly transfer to patient's mouth by means of a holder device called tray. It is generally perceived among dental professions that an impression, or negative likeness of the teeth and surrounding structures, is necessary to obtain a cast which can then be used to make a restoration in the laboratory. For more than a century, this technology was taught in dental faculties as a relatively cheap and easy to use technique. This technology however necessitates...