When introduced in the 1980s, computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems enabled fabrication of immediate chairside inlay and onlay ceramic restorations. The evolution of supportive computer technology has since made chairside design and milling of complete, high-quality crowns and multiple-unit ceramic restorations a reality, allowing clinicians to offer their patients an aesthetic and long-lasting restoration in a single visit.
The potential benefits of chairside CAD/CAM milling machines are numerous. The ability to complete a restoration in a single visit dramatically enhances patient satisfaction and vastly increases efficiency (significantly decreasing the waiting time between preparation and restoration delivery). In addition, the block material used for in-office milling is fabricated using reproducible procedures, which produce homogenous and consistently dense high-quality blocks. This eliminates the chance for human error that exists with traditional dental lab restorations and, therefore, also eliminates the chance of porosities.
Because preparation and seating of the final restoration is accomplished in a single visit, CAD/CAM chairside milling eliminates the temporization process. Furthermore, when used with intraoral scanning, these systems can eliminate the need for traditional impression materials, further maximizing both patient comfort and practice efficiency.
According to the most recent responses to an ongoing dental technology survey being conducted by Inquantive Research, 27% of dentists own a digital impression system and 19% plan to purchase one in the next 12 months. That begs the question: How many of those dentists are milling chairside? And if you’re part of the 27%, are you? My guess is...
Henry Schein recently pledged $1.25 million to fund a groundbreaking new digital dental school curriculum that teaches computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology. Schein will partner with the American College of Prosthodontists Education Foundation (ACPEF) to fund a digital dentistry curriculum initiative that will be offered...
Why not celebrate CAD/CAM technology with your entire dental team? In preparation of its CEREC 30th Anniversary Celebration, Sirona is currently offering C30 attendees a great deal on staff registration. Doctors can now register 3 practice members with a 4th eligible to attend for free! Register quickly because this limited time opportunity runs...
In honor of Earth Day, take a few minutes to ask yourself: How can I make my dental practice more environmentally-friendly? In addition to preserving our natural resources, adopting eco-friendly policies can reduce your costs of waste disposal, water, energy and office supplies and can even attract patients to your office. The Eco Dentistry...
What is 3D printing? 3D printing is different than CNC milling, although both use CAD/CAM to design and create a digital file. In the CNC milling process, you start with a block of material and carve an object out of the material. With 3D printing, you start with nothing and gradually add layer upon layer of material until the final item is...
Now, however, a block material is available that provides us with some very exciting capabilities in all-zirconia restorations. 3M Lava Plus High Translucency Zirconia, the next generation of Lava Zirconia. Lava Plus high translucency zirconia material can actually be used for all-zirconia crowns as well as traditional layered restorations. The...
