CAD/CAM IN Dentistry
What are CAD/CAM applications?
CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) is an application of digital technology used in dentistry. This technology provides dentists with more precise and faster treatment options. Here are the basic principles of CAD/CAM applications:
CAD (Computer-Aided Design): This is the computer-aided design stage. The dentist creates a digital model using a 3D scan of the tooth. This model shows the shape, size and aesthetic details of the tooth.
CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing): This is the computer-aided manufacturing stage. The tooth model created in the CAD phase is transferred to a special milling machine or 3D printer. These machines directly shape the tooth by cutting or producing it from a ceramic block or other suitable material.
CAD/CAM applications have several uses in dentistry:
Porcelain restorations: Porcelain fillings, inlays/onlays, crowns, bridges and laminates can be produced using CAD/CAM technology. This method allows patients to receive permanent restorations on the same day.
Dental veneers: Aesthetic dental veneers are thin layers of porcelain applied to the front surface of teeth. CAD/CAM technology allows these veneers to be precisely shaped and customised to the patient's oral structure.
Dental implants: CAD/CAM technology is also used for dental implants. It can be used to plan implant positions, produce surgical guides, and design and manufacture implant-borne restorations.
The use of CAD/CAM provides dentists with greater control and precision, speeds up the treatment process and allows for more natural results. This technology offers dentists and patients a more effective and comfortable dental treatment experience.
CAD/CAM applications are now widely used in various fields such as architectural projects, mechanical and civil engineering and many others. This increasingly important technology is now playing an active role in dentistry. CAD/CAM applications in dentistry have developed and accelerated over the last 20 years with the advancement of digital technology and its widespread use in healthcare after the construction sector.
Use of CAD/CAM
The use of CAD/CAM in dentistry is made possible by different software. In digital dentistry, CAD/CAM applications can be used for crowns, bridges, laminates and zirconium monoblock zirconium applications. CAD/CAM procedures can be easily performed with three basic steps. These can be explained as follows: After making the necessary preparations on the patient, an intraoral scanner is used to scan the oral cavity. In this scanning process, sometimes photo technology and sometimes video technology are used as intraoral scanners. The scanners take several photos per minute and combine them with software to create a 3-dimensional model. The aim is to transfer the preparation in the patient's mouth to the computer environment in a flawless 3-dimensional way. Once the data is transferred to the computers, the 3-dimensional models are designed and the milling process begins. The model is then prepared for placement on the patient. These processes make it easier to work with people all over the world, share cases and improve communication between dentists. So you can start and finish your treatment elsewhere, or our dentists can help each other.
CAD/CAM design: After 3D scanning of the oral cavity, a virtual model of the teeth to be made is created in the computer-aided design phase. Ready-made design teeth from the catalogue can be used, or the design can be made according to the patient's own teeth. If temporary materials are used in this type of design, they can be shaped according to the patient's preferences and increase patient satisfaction. When these types of designs are made, the patient's approval and satisfaction can be fully achieved.
How is CAD/CAM produced? Once the teeth have been designed, they are sent to the CAD/CAM machine for milling. This milling process is carried out using blocks that are suitable for the size and process of the work. The blocks used can be e-max, lithium disilicate or nanocomposite such as Gc. If we look at the production phase of a single crown made of metal, crowns made with CAD/CAM are much faster and made of much healthier materials. With CEREC CAM applications, e-max crowns and bridges, laminates, inlays and onlays can be produced in a single session.