CAD/CAM Dentistry
For individuals with missing or damaged teeth, the latest advancements in dental technology have
ushered in a new era of rapid, high-quality dental restorations. Dental restoration is a broad
term encompassing various types of tooth replacements, particularly dental crowns (often called
caps). At our practice, we've embraced CAD/CAM dental technology to offer these innovative
treatment options to our patients. CAD stands for computer-aided design, and CAM stands for
computer-aided manufacturing.
Whenever we craft a dental restoration, whether it's a single crown or an entire bridge or
denture, the initial step involves creating a model of your mouth. Traditionally, this required
taking impressions by having you bite down on a substance that resembles pudding for several
minutes. However, with CAD technology, we employ a digital 3-D scanner instead. This scanner is
essentially a compact handheld camera mounted on a wand, which is moved back and forth around
your teeth to capture all sides
What Is CAD/CAM Dentistry
After the digital scan, the data is immediately transmitted to a specialized computer
program, which automatically generates a 3-D model of your teeth. Using the tools provided
by the program, the dentist can then craft a virtual replacement tooth (or teeth, for
multiple-tooth restorations). By scanning the opposing teeth as well, the dentist can
simulate how the restoration will fit when your teeth come together, which constitutes the
computer-aided design stage of the process.
The subsequent phase involves computer-aided manufacturing. Once the design is finalized, the
dentist transmits the file to an automated milling machine located right in our office. The
dentist then selects a ceramic or porcelain block (usually about 1-inch square) that matches
the shade of your natural teeth. This block is inserted into the milling machine, and
automated drills are deployed to shape it, much like an artist carving a sculpture from
marble, albeit at a much swifter pace. The diamond drill bits meticulously carve the block
into the precise shape of the tooth as determined by the 3-D design.
Computer-Aided Manufacturing Improves Efficiency
CAD/CAM technology significantly enhances the efficiency, speed, and, notably, the precision of
many dental restoration procedures. In traditional methods of creating a model of your mouth
using impressions, molds, and casting, there's a potential for distortions that can result in
slight inaccuracies. When a dental crown is crafted based on a slightly inaccurate model,
there's a higher likelihood that the fit of the crown will require significant adjustments
before it becomes comfortable. With CAD/CAM restorations, we achieve an excellent fit in the
vast majority of cases. Thanks to this technology, we can restore your smile to its normal state
faster than ever, delivering beautiful results.
For a single-tooth crown, the milling process typically takes around 10 minutes. Once the crown
is completed, it is polished, and sometimes color or shine is added through glazing. Afterward,
it is baked in a small oven for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. The remarkable advantage of
computer-aided manufacturing is that the entire crown fabrication process can occur while you
are comfortably seated in the dental chair. This is a significant improvement compared to the
past, when we had to provide patients with temporary crowns and wait for a laboratory to
complete the crown, requiring a return visit at a later date.