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<p>Current Chairside CAD/CAM Systems and Materials for Dental Restorations<br><br>Lieutenant Katherine L. Cheng, DC, USN and Captain Scott Kooistra, DC, USN<br><br>Introduction<br>The use of computer aided design/computer assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) in dentistry began over 28 years ago. This technology allows a digital image of a tooth preparation to be designed into a restoration and then milled by a machine, thus avoiding impression-making. CAD/CAM systems can be categorized as either chairside or lab-based, and this paper will review chairside systems and capabilities. It is currently possible to perform chairside milling of a number of different restorations, including inlays/onlays, veneers, single crowns, endocrowns, fixed partial dentures, and implant abutments. Millable materials include glass-containing and polycrystalline ceramics, certain metals, composite, acrylic, and hybrid materials, and the available options continue to expand.<br><br>Advantages to using CAD/CAM technology are numerous. In addition to eliminating the final impression and lab requirements, the quality of dental prostheses has improved significantly by means of standardized production process-es, and the technology has made it possible to machine high performance ceramics and titanium with high accuracy. There are, however, drawbacks. The equipment is typically very expensive and can take up a significant amount of room. Training is required for the operator and auxiliary staff. Tooth preparations may need to account for limitations of the milling system. Closed-data systems in which all components are linked by a unique data format prevent different systems from interacting. The purpose of this clinical update is to review common chairside CAD/CAM systems and milling materials currently available.<br></p>
<br>Subjects: Computer-Aided Design Computer-Aided Design; Crowns; Denture; Partial; Fixed</div>
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U.S. Navy. Naval Postgraduate Dental School</div>
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