Today’s CAD/CAM materials allow clinicians to deliver esthetic and durable prosthetic solutions for their patients. To help meet the unique needs of any practice, Henry Schein is hosting a “Block Party” with exclusive offers on CAD/CAM blocks for Dentsply Sirona’s CEREC and the Planmeca PlanMill at henryscheindental.com/blockparty.
In this interview, find out why John Cox, VP Technology Sales for Henry Schein, believes CAD/CAM dentistry can enhance the patient experience and deliver more consistent and predictable patient outcomes in a more efficient and productive workflow.
In this interview, find out why John Cox, VP Technology Sales for Henry Schein, believes CAD/CAM dentistry can enhance the patient experience and deliver more consistent and predictable patient outcomes in a more efficient and productive workflow.
John Cox
henryscheindental.com
henryscheindental.com
VIDEO
Come mill around at Henry Schein’s
Block Party!
Block Party!
Finding the Best CAD/CAM Materials
WITH JOHN COX, VP TECHNOLOGY SALES,
HENRY SCHEIN DENTAL
WITH JOHN COX, VP TECHNOLOGY SALES,
HENRY SCHEIN DENTAL
What’s the benefit of having so many different materials for CAD/CAM blocks, such as zirconia, lithium silicates, resins, etc.?
I think CAD/CAM dentistry should provide the dentist similar material blocks that are available to the lab. Today, a dentist who does not use CAD/CAM makes different selections depending on the indication that they’re placing in the restoration. CAD/CAM should be no different, so the decision of which material to use should be driven by the individual patient situation and not limited, necessarily, by a narrow material choice that one system provides. I think the key to clinical success with any restoration is that the dentist needs to understand the material properties when selecting the CAD/CAM material of choice for their clinical situation.
Choosing the right CAD/CAM block material can be overwhelming, especially to clinicians who are new to CAD/CAM. What features should they look out for?
Selecting the right material to meet the needs of the restoration are critical. I think a good guideline to follow is to first break it down by materials, by category—resins, glass, high-strength ceramics, and zirconia. When you understand those 4 “buckets,” the next questions to be asked are: What’s the clinical indication that I’m trying to meet, and what am I trying to deliver to the patient? Resin is ideal for a partial coverage; glass is ideal for a single unit in a region where you want to deliver high esthetics, such as an interior region; high-strength ceramic is ideal when needing to deliver esthetic restorations with multiple units; and then zirconia is a go-to material for posterior single units, as well as multiunit and abutment restorations for implants.
Are materials that replicate natural tooth structure the way of the future for CAD/CAM blocks?
Again, it comes down to creating the ultimate restoration, which would mean you couldn’t tell the difference between a natural tooth and the restoration beside it. It’s all about a balance of strength and esthetics, and the composition of material depending on the area of the mouth. I think if protocol is followed and time is taken with the right material, you can create that natural-looking restoration right beside a natural tooth and not be able to tell the difference.