Three ways we can help you
Make informed decisions
Free patient guides for the most important treatment areas.
Learn moreGet a second opinion
Your right as a patient — how to get a qualified second opinion.
Learn moreUnderstand your treatment plan
Classify treatment plan, understand terms, ask the right questions.
Learn moreMake informed decisions
Informed patients make better decisions. The Institute provides free, independent guides on the most important areas of digital dentistry — organized by topic, without commercial intent.
Implantology
Everything about dental implants: from the first question to long-term care. Clear explanations of the procedure, materials, risks and costs.
Aesthetic Dentistry
Aesthetic treatments such as veneers, lumineers and smile design are now fully digitally plannable: Digital Smile Design (DSD) shows the result on screen before a single tooth is touched — a crucial difference from conventional planning.
Prosthetics & Tooth Replacement
Crowns, bridges and inlays today benefit greatly from digital workflows: CAD/CAM milling, intraoral scanners and digital color analysis enable more precise results than conventional impression technique — often in a single appointment.
Diagnostics & Surgery
Modern diagnostics such as CBCT and intraoral scanning form the basis of every precise treatment. This section explains what the examinations show and why they matter.
Oral Surgery & Augmentation
Oral surgical procedures today are significantly more precise and tissue-sparing than before through digital planning, navigated surgery and piezo technology. These guides explain when which procedure is appropriate and what patients can expect.
Endodontics & Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is the alternative to extraction — the goal is always tooth preservation. Digital technologies such as CBCT diagnostics, electronic apex localization and microscopy make endodontics today more precise and predictable.
Periodontics & Digital Workflow
Periodontitis is the most common cause of tooth loss — and one of the most underestimated. These guides explain how digital diagnostics (CBCT, intraoral scanner), laser treatment and early intervention make the difference.
TMD & Jaw Joint
Jaw joint problems are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. These guides explain diagnostic criteria, therapy options and what you can expect from a specialized practice.
Treatment Plan & Rights
The treatment and cost plan is your most important document before any major dental treatment. Here you will learn how to read it, know your rights and make informed decisions.
Safety, Standards & Patient Rights
Your rights as a patient, quality indicators of a good practice and how to handle treatment errors — explained clearly and with substance.
Orthodontics for Adults
Straight teeth are possible at any age. Modern methods such as aligners and lingual brackets make orthodontic treatment for adults more comfortable and discreet than ever before.
All guides are continuously expanded and are freely accessible after publication.
Get a second opinion
I would like an independent second opinion on my planned treatment.
A second opinion is not an expression of distrust — it is a legitimate patient right and in many cases a wise decision. Especially for:
- High-cost implant restorations
- Recommended bone augmentation procedures
- Extensive prosthetic restorations
- Orthodontic treatment plans
- Unclear diagnoses or conflicting recommendations
What a good second opinion should achieve:
A qualified second opinion evaluates not the other practitioner, but the treatment plan: Is the diagnosis comprehensible? Does the planned procedure correspond to current standards? Are there alternatives? Does the proposed methodology align with evidence-based protocols?
How to obtain a second opinion:
The Institute facilitates the possibility of personal consultation with our clinical partner Smile4Life — with a focus on evidence-based assessment of your treatment plan.
Request second opinion for digital implant planningUnderstand and interpret your treatment plan
I received a treatment plan — and don't fully understand it.
A treatment plan contains dental terminology, position numbers and costs that are difficult for laypeople to understand. This is not an exception — it is the rule.
The Institute explains what the most important terms in a treatment plan mean, which services are typically included, and what questions you can ask your practitioner to better understand the plan.
What the plan check is
- Explanatory overview of included positions and terms
- Assessment of which services are standard in digital workflows today
- Assistance in formulating questions for your practitioner
What the plan check is not
- Not a clinical diagnosis
- Not an evaluation of a specific practitioner's performance
- Not a substitute for a dental consultation
Frequently asked questions from our patients
Support the Institute's work
The Institute is a non-profit research association. With a membership, you support research, education and quality development in modern dentistry — and gain access to detailed information and events.
Learn more about membershipRequest a personal consultation
After reading our information, if you would like a personal assessment of your situation, we recommend a consultation with our clinical partner — Smile4Life practice under the direction of Priv.Doz.Dr.Dr. K. Yerit in Vienna.
Smile4Life performs evidence-based implant restorations, digital dental prosthetics and comprehensive prosthetic treatment according to the standards described by the Institute.