It was once a very complex, lengthy, and arduous process for dentists to manufacture tooth restorations. Measurements teeth had to be done by hand using primitive tools and materials had to be mixed and blended by hand as well. Not only did dentists often find it challenging to get the size of the restoration right, they also had difficulty at times getting the color of the restoration to match that of the existing natural teeth.
This has all changed thanks to computer technology. In today's world of dentistry, when a tooth needs to be restored, cosmetic dentists can use the CAD or CAM system to manufacture tooth replacements. The letters "CAD or CAM" actually stand for "computer aided design" and "computer aided manufacturing." The actual manufacturing of tooth replacements is done in a CAD or CAM milling machine.
This unique machine is can custom-design and to manufacture any number of cosmetic dental materials. These materials include teeth-colored restorations, dental crowns, dental onlays, dental inlays, and porcelain veneers.
Because of the precision that this sophisticated machine is capable of, CAD or CAM technology now accounts for some of the very best cosmetic dental solutions available to patients today.
There are a number of key advantages to working with a cosmetic dentist who has access to either a CAD or CAM SYSTEM or CAD or CAM laboratory.
- The cosmetic dental materials they produce are extremely accurate.
- The bulk of the tooth's structure is left intact because only a minimal amount of tooth preparation is necessary.
- Tooth restoration colors look identical to natural teeth color.
The CAD or CAM system involves several steps:
Step One:
The area surrounding the restoration is numbed in order to make the patient feel comfortable. A rubber dam is placed in the patient's mouth to protect the throat from any dental debris that may be created while removing plaque and decay.
Step Two:
Plaque and decay are then removed, and the tooth is shaped with a dental hand piece.
Step Three:
The dentist creates a mold of a tooth to be sent to a CAD or CAM system dental lab.
Step Four:
The dentist sends this data to the lab where the CAD or CAM machine is located. When the mold arrives at the lab, the optical, infrared camera in the CAD or CAM system records the details of the mold and creates a virtual, digital image of the teeth. This image is identical to the dimensions of the patient's natural teeth.
Step Five:
The lab will then place the specified material into the milling machine. Computer software now uses the detailed image to shape the material into the desired custom-fitted restoration.
Step Six:
Cosmetic dentists work with patients to determine the very best restoration for a particular tooth problem. They also match the color of that restoration to the existing natural teeth of the patient.
Step Seven:
When you return to the office, we will fit you with the new restoration. At this time, we will add any necessary custom coloring and bond the restoration in place with cement. We will check your bite and make any final adjustments, then polish the restoration to make it blend with the surrounding teeth.
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