Digital Dental LabInnovative development in technology is changing the world of dentistry and taking the profession to the highest level. As technology is revolutionizing the dental industry every dentist needs to upgrade his or her practice by adopting the new digital dentistry. You'll need to improve the quality of your treatment in line with modern trend and this starts with enriching your dental lab with advanced tools and equipment.

Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is helping dentists to provide high-quality dental services to their patients. This technology has been used in various engineering and manufacturing sectors for many decades and its introduction into digital dentistry simplified the procedures and creation of dental restorations.

There are many benefits of having a dental lab with CAD/CAM technology and this will surely improve your dental practice and make treatments very comfortable for patients. Besides its ability to facilitate the streamline creation of dental restorations and simplifying the practice, it has many other advantages over the traditional method of producing dental prosthesis.

What is CAD/CAM?

Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing are used in the dental industry to make the design and creation of dental restorations a lot easier. CAD/CAM is a highly-effective dental lab technology that has widely been used in the dental industry for over the past 20 years now. It is known for its precision in producing tools, while its accuracy in making dental restorations is shaping the industry. By using a 3D image printing system and non-metal materials – you can use CAD/CAM technology to produce milled ceramic veneers, bridges, and crowns, as well as abutments for implants.

How Does CAD/CAM Works?

CAD/CAM technology is an innovative idea made for you to design dental restorations for your patients on a computer screen. It works by capturing the tooth or teeth of your patient through an optical scanner and displaying it in a 3D image. You can then use the 3D custom image to plan and design a dental prosthesis that will fit well and look natural. After designing the desired restoration with the help of CAD software, the crown, bridge or veneer will be milled and customized to look natural and fit your patient before passing it through a high temperature (preferably in an oven) and then given a final touch such as polishing.

Benefits of CAD/CAM in a Dental Lab

Over many years, digital dental labs have been taking over the conventional system in dentistry and dentists are moving ahead with the trend by taking advantage of the opportunities provided by CAD/CAM technology to equip their lab with latest materials that will make work easier and highly efficient. With this method of producing dental restorations, you can now satisfy your patients' need for a stronger and durable prosthesis and work in a comfortable environment. Some of the benefits of dentistry CAD/CAM technology are mentioned below.

It Saves Time

Because CAD/CAM technology will capture and display your clients' tooth or teeth and gums in a 3D image system on a computer screen which is then sent to the lab, it enables you to work faster and get the perfect design of the digital dental restoration. It allows you to speed up the production of restorations between 2 to 5 days instead of 2 to 3 weeks required in the conventional procedure. In some cases, patients can have their restorations done on the same day of their first appointment.

The Final Restoration Can Be Predicted

With CAD/CAM technology in dentistry, you can predict the outcome of the restoration and how it will look on your patient. It allows your patients to have a remarkable experience to decide the type of restoration that fits their desired look. And without the traditional impression that requires several processes, it means your patients will experience a more convenient visit to have a dental restoration done in your office.

It Improves the Quality of Restoration

You will have a complete control over the process of designing a befitting restoration for your patients. Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing will allow you to design and create a precise and accurate dental restoration, and to enhance your confidence in producing a restoration that fits well and last longer.

It Creates a Natural Appearance

CAD/CAM restoration is most preferred because it creates a natural appearance, because of the ceramic block which is not transparent but clear enough to permit light to pass through it. This is a close resemblance to enamel that fits well in the mouth and can be worn as posterior teeth. This technology produces dental restorations in a variety of shades, sizes, and colors.

Just as CAD/CAM technology is quickly becoming popular in the dental industry because it allows dentists to improve their services and offer their patients a more comfortable experience. This technology is an advanced process that you can use in cosmetic dentistry procedures such as onlays, inlays, crowns, dentures, veneers and dental implants. If you have questions or are looking to work with a dental lab that offers CAD/CAM technology, then contact us at Sky-CAD!