CAD / CAM technology in dentistry

We use a computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing technology for dental restorations - CAD/CAM.

CAD/CAM dentistry is a field of dentistry and prosthodontics using CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) to improve the design and creation of dental restorations, especially dental prostheses, including crowns, crown lays, veneers, inlays and onlays, fixed bridges, dental implant restorations, dentures (removable or fixed), and orthodontic appliances. CAD/CAM complements earlier technologies used for these purposes by any combination of increasing the speed of design and creation; increasing the convenience or simplicity of the design, creation, and insertion processes; and making possible restorations and appliances that otherwise would have been infeasible. Other goals include reducing unit cost and making affordable restorations and appliances that otherwise would have been prohibitively expensive. However, to date, chairside CAD/CAM often involves extra time on the part of the dentist, and the fee is often at least two times higher than for conventional restorative treatments using lab services. CAD/CAM is one of the highly competent dental lab technologies.

 A little over two decades ago, the technology was used to create what is now called the CEREC, a method which creates porcelain dental restorations in a matter of minutes instead of days. The computer program displays a 3-D custom images of teeth and gums, allowing dentists to precisely design the tooth restoration with functional and esthetic characteristics in mind. Once the restoration has been designed by the computer and cosmetic dentist, the information is sent to a sculpting machine (milling) which creates the restoration to the exact specifications of the design through CAM. There is no need for impression taking, temporaries or unnecessary reduction of healthy tooth structure. 

The technology is so precise that dental restorations made by CAD/CAM often fit better than those made by hand in a dental lab. Patient satisfaction is being increased simply because you can have your tooth repaired in a single day, instead of having to return for repeat appointments. Spending time in the dentist’s chair is low on most people’s priority lists, and CAD/CAM dentistry technology is helping you move on faster than ever before. 

One of the most effective uses of CAD/CAM in dentistry is the same-day porcelain crown, which removes several steps, including using a temporary plastic crown while a permanent crown is made by a laboratory. With CAD/CAM your restorations are placed in a single appointment. Because the most common CAD/CAM dental technologies use sculpted porcelain to create crowns and other types of dental fixtures such as inlays and onlays, the technology is even promoting safer dental restorations by reducing the use of metal amalgam fillings, which often contain traces of mercury. Using metal free materials that are the closest to your natural enamel, CEREC gives you the highest quality restorative care.

By using the CAD/CAM technology our dentist is in complete control of the final result. Since the crown, inlay, onlay or veneer is designed and fabricated from start to finish by our dentist, he has total control over how it will look and fit. A crown made in a laboratory is under the control of the technician and assistants who work of plaster models and haven’t even seen the patient.

Main advantages of CAD/CAM technology:

• Accuracy of shape prevents gapping between tooth crowns and surrounding teeth

• Immediate 3D images remove the need for taking time-consuming impressions of teeth

• Computer sculpting creates a much healthier restoration for the tooth in a matter of minutes

• Short sculpting time allows the dentist to place your dental restoration during the same visit, instead of requiring two visits

• CAD/CAM restorations are better-fitting, more durable and more natural looking (multi-colored and translucent, similar to natural teeth) than previously machined restorations.

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