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CAD/CAM Technology
Computer-aided design and manufacturing of dental restorations with high precision and natural aesthetics
What Is CAD/CAM Dentistry?
CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing) is a digital technology that enables the computer-aided design and precision milling of dental restorations. Instead of traditional impressions and manual fabrication, the CAD/CAM system uses digital scanning and precise machining to create crowns, bridges, inlays, and onlays from a single block of high-quality material.
Digital dental impressions ensure high accuracy and eliminate the discomfort of conventional moulds. The result is restorations that fit well, look natural, and last for years.
The Fabrication Process
The CAD/CAM fabrication process in our practice follows several steps:
Digital scanning: an intraoral scanner creates a three-dimensional digital model of your teeth, eliminating the need for traditional impressions.
Computer-aided design: using the digital model the dentist designs the restoration with specialised software, matching the shape, size, and colour to your natural teeth.
Precision milling: a CNC milling machine precisely carves the restoration from a ceramic, zirconia, or composite block according to the digital design.
Finishing and cementation: the restoration is polished, glazed, and permanently cemented onto the prepared tooth.
Benefits of CAD/CAM Technology
CAD/CAM technology offers several advantages over traditional methods of dental restoration fabrication:
High precision: the digital workflow eliminates errors inherent in conventional impressions and manual fabrication, providing a close fit.
Natural-looking aesthetics: restorations milled from a solid block of ceramic or zirconia look natural and closely match natural teeth.
Material durability: the high-quality materials used in the CAD/CAM process are highly resistant to wear and fracture.
Biocompatibility: ceramic and zirconia materials are biocompatible and do not cause allergic reactions.
Efficiency: the digital workflow accelerates the entire fabrication process, reducing the number of visits required.