Digital Dentistry
CAD / CAM
What is CAD / CAM?
CAD / CAM systems, stands for Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), have become the most important part of digital dentistry with the development of technology. These systems provides physicians and patients greater convenience and help them complete their treatments more quickly and effectively.
CAD / CAM systems have many advantages over conventional methods. These devices make it possible to construct dental coatings using very aesthetic materials in just 1-2 hours, allowing treatments to be completed in a much shorter period of time.
CEREC Systems
It is a CAD / CAM system used in digital dentistry to design full ceramic restorations in a short period of time such as single session and to produce the restoration prepared in a computer program with high quality materials using a special scraping device.
Advantages of the CAD/CAM Systems
- Does not require long treatment sessions. Depending on the type and number of restorations, 4-5 hours of dental treatment can be done in shorter time as 30 minutes.
- For the restoration, the impression is taken by taking intra-oral images using a camera, not dental impression tray making patients more comfortable
- No need to use temporary restoration. No sensitivity or discomfort.
- Restorations are produced from high quality porcelain blocks which are healthier and longer lasting.
- Full ceramic restorations match the natural color and form of the tooth.
- The impressions taken by the computer is sensitive at a micro-level and the fit of the restorations is better than the restorations made with the traditional measure.
Procedure
- The dentist cleans the caries or damaged area and shapes the tooth according to the restoration to be made.
- The 3D image of the prepared tooth is taken with the CEREC camera and the data is transferred to the computer.
- The dentist designs the restoration to be scraped from a porcelain block in the computer.
- The computerized restoration is scraped from high quality full ceramic blocks using a 3D scraper.
- The prepared porcelain restorations is applied on the tooth with special materials after trial.
Like all dental treatments, CEREC restorations are also checked after certain periods.