State of the art technology makes people everywhere grateful to modern science. It makes the world a significantly easier place to live; with advanced information applied to everything from coffee makers to computers. Great strides have been made in many computer aided technologies in dentistry, as well, and one of the most beneficial is the CAD\CAM technology. Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing or CAD/CAM is used by industries as diverse as auto manufacturers and toy makers. Basically the computer-aided design program will feed data and information into some sort of manufacturing or milling machine which then creates an item to the operator’s specifications.
Today, Dayton- and Centerville-area dentists are putting CAD\CAM to work in the manufacturing of restorative items such as crowns, inlays, onlays, bridges and other items. The equipment will generally rely strictly on a ceramic material that creates a seamless and flawless product which fits perfectly into a patient’s mouth.
Usually restorative dental procedures would require a patient to make two or more visits to their dentist. This is because they would need to have a mold of the tooth or area in question made from which a custom crown or other restorative would be prepared.
With CAD\CAM technology in an office, your Dayton- and Centerville-area dentist can take the appropriate images and measurements and design the item to be manufactured in only a few short minutes. From there it can be immediately fitted without the patient being required to wear a temporary crown for a week or more while they wait for the new one to be manufactured.
Temporary restorations for such items as crowns and bridges can leave the area exposed to potential irritation, bacterial accumulation and infection. This situation could allow a patient to return to have their permanent crown fitted, only to have it placed improperly due to swollen gums or irritated soft tissue.
With the use of CAD\CAM equipment the tooth could be prepared and the custom crown fitted in a single visit, sparing the patient any potential discomfort or risk of infection. Additionally, many restorative dental items are still made of a mixture of, amalgam, gold and other materials. The CAD\CAM equipment relies strictly on durable and natural looking porcelain which is now able to withstand a great deal more wear and tear thanks to the incorporation of zirconia into the compound.
It must be understood however that not all dentists are willing, or able, to afford the costly equipment required of the technology. This may mean a person interested in having some dental restoration done with CAD\CAM equipment may have to use a new dentist for the procedures.
If a patient is interested in immediate restorative treatment and if they are looking for a significantly more natural looking crown, inlay, onlay, veneer,or bridge, they may want to explore the exciting technology behind CAD\CAM dentistry available in Dayton and Centerville.