Technology and Imaging
CAD/CAM dentistry
CAD/CAM dentistry uses computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing to design and make dental pieces, such as crowns, from a digital scan.
CAD stands for computer-aided design and CAM for computer-aided manufacturing. In dentistry, a digital scan of the tooth is turned into a computer design. A machine, such as a milling unit or a 3D printer, then makes the piece.
A systematic review compared the quality and accuracy of CAD/CAM methods with traditional materials. A scoping review found that milling showed superior accuracy for fixed prostheses, while 3D printing used less material. Both depend on a good scan from an intraoral scanner or a digital impression.
CAD/CAM may be used for crowns, veneers, and dentures. See the dental crown page for the practice's own description of crowns. This entry does not say which methods the practice uses.