CAD/CAM Restorative Technology

In 2003 we brought into our office a high technology system for making porcelain and composite restorations. The system uses a computer aided design/computer aided manufacture platform to accomplish the restoration in a single session - without impressions, temporaries or long waiting periods.

As an example, say a patient needs a defective silver filling (amalgam) replaced. The old filling is removed and the tooth is prepared in a very conservative fashion. An optical, three-dimensional image of the cavity is captured and sent to the computer. The computer software is then used to create a digital and virtual restoration. The digitalized information is sent wirelessly to a milling machine where the restoration is subsequently milled out of a special block of esthetic material. Finally the restoration is placed within the cavity and bonded to place.

It's possible to use this system to fabricate all types of restorations from the simplest filling to porcelain crowns. We are selective in deciding what are considered good indications for its applications. Nevertheless, the conservation of tooth structure, precision fit, realistic dental anatomy, and single appointment procedure makes this a fabulous treatment modality.