University of São Paulo dental student Júlia Martins Mafra says joining her university’s digital dentistry league and learning exocad software was a game changer for her studies. Not only does software like exocad’s DentalCAD increase predictability in her work and allow her to visualize cases more clearly—she’s also seen how digital workflows help her deliver more efficient and compassionate care to the high-needs patients who come to Brazil’s university clinics for care. Júlia explains why digital tools are indispensable to her career plans.
Q: When did you get interested in digital dentistry?
A: I got my start through Interdisciplinary League in Digital Dentistry at the University of São Paulo (LIOD), but it was during a second-year internship, working with a dentist who had just set up a digital lab, when I saw how impactful digital dentistry could be.
Q: How did the digital dentistry club get its start?
A: Here at USP, we have leagues focused on different specialties. The LIOD was founded in 2019 by a group of students who wanted to start introducing digital dentistry at the university. The academic center manages the league. We have faculty coordinators who guide us and help plan activities. To join the club, students go through a selection process. It's great because everyone involved is super engaged and eager to learn more. I am currently part of the management team.
Q: How did you get access to exocad software at the university?
A: We have access to the exocad software licenses during the hands-on workshops organized by exocad in partnership with the digital dentistry league. The departments in the college are starting to introduce this into the curriculum, but it is a bureaucratic process.
Q: What was learning exocad software like?
A: It was challenging at first, but diving in was the best way to learn. Now, it’s one of the most practical tools I use every day.
Q: What does being a "digital dentist" mean to you?
A: Digital dentistry is above all a way to enhance how we help people through dental care. I don't see digital dentistry as a specialty but as one of the most powerful tools the profession has to offer. It improves patient care by providing more comfort and predictability and reduces the chance of errors.
Q: What type of dentist do you aspire to be?
A: I want to be a problem-solver who provides the best care possible, inspired by the great role models I have.
Q: Does USP include digital training in the curriculum?
A: Not fully, but thanks to exocad’s involvement in the digital dentistry league, we get hands-on experience. Slowly, it’s becoming part of the official curriculum.
Júlia shares how she uses the exocad digital workflow in her studies.
Q: Why is digital training important to you?
A: Digital tools help us be more precise and responsive, which is especially helpful for students learning practical skills.
Q: I’ve heard that in Brazil, many people without regular access to healthcare go to the universities for treatment. Do digital tools help deliver care to this group?
A: Digital tools can really streamline patient care in the university clinic. Sometimes we spend an entire morning or afternoon with just one patient, which isn't always practical. Digital tools give us more confidence as students. They allow us to see things more clearly.
Q: What are your post-graduation goals?
A: I want real-world experience beyond what we learn in class to understand what truly works in practice.
Q: Other college activities?
A: I play on the women’s handball team and in our drumline. InterOdonto, a major sports event for São Paulo dental schools, is a highlight.
Q: Weekend hangouts?
A: I love exploring new burger spots in São Paulo with my boyfriend.
Q: Favorite song right now?
A: “A Dança” by MC Hariel ft. Gilberto Gil.
Q: Advice for your younger self?
A: Be patient—when one door closes, others with better opportunities open.
Q: One word to describe exocad?
A: Essential.
Júlia Martins Mafra (USP) is in the third year of dental school at the University of São Paulo. She is a member of the management team of the Interdisciplinary League in Digital Dentistry at the University of São Paulo (LIOD) and interns at Garófalo Dentistry and EcoAcademy Clinical Excellence Academy, in the city of São Paulo. Currently, Júlia is participating in research work in the prosthetics department at FOUSP focused on digital dentistry. She has interned at clinics with digital workflow laboratories in the city of São Paulo and is an enthusiast for digital dentistry and what it can offer. Júlia seeks learning and engagement to increasingly bring the conveniences of the digital world into her academic experience and professional practice with excellence. Follow her journey on Instagram.
by Caitlan Reeg
Writer at exocad
Caitlan Reeg spends her days telling the world about the innovations her colleagues create. She’s passionate about healthcare, technology, and the ways the two interact to improve our lives. A former journalist, Caitlan has worked on staff at Dow Jones Newswires in Frankfurt and at the national public radio program Marketplace in Los Angeles.
