Medical Insider – Dr. Rhodora T. Entero
The Importance of the CAD/CAM Dental Lab
in a Dental Center (PART 4)
Let us talk about the Pros and Cons of CAD/CAM
Dentistry. According to the Consumer Guide to
Dentistry, there are many advantages to using
CAD/CAM dentistry to aid restorative dentistry
instead of the old standard of letting the dental lab
mill or manufacture new dental prosthetics for a few
weeks based on the mold of the patient’s mouth. It
includes the following:
Improved Accuracy: A dental scan is more
accurate than a mold of your mouth. The laser
light used to do the scan and translate it into a
3D model can take note of nuances, minutiae,
and topography in your mouth that a simple
mold cannot, especially if you took a colored
digital intra-oral scan. Also, if your mouth
changes in terms of less swollen gums or extra
fallen teeth, it’s easier to do a quick digital scan
versus putting on a new mouth mold.
Shorter Waiting Periods: It takes only 40
minutes to 2 and ½ hours to make dental
appliances versus 2 weeks to a whole month.
It’s like the difference between email and
standard mail in terms of quickness. This also
means fewer visits to the dentist, as discussed
later on in the other items on this list. Shorter is
better in today’s world where everyone’s in a
rush.
One-Visit Procedures: There’s no need for a
temporary restoration like a template-based
temp crown with CAD/CAM tech because now
the whole process can be done in one visit, no
problem. Alas, you’ll have to pay extra time in
the dentist chair because the visit lasts longer
than usual. Still worth it compared to stretching
out costs on multiple visits.
But we have to remember, too, the Steep Learning
Curve. Some professionals might have to deal with
a steep learning curve in order to effectively use
CAD/CAM technology, thus not all dental clinics will
have it. Only 8-10 percent of American dental clinics
have in-house CAD/CAM facilities according to
Dentistry IQ. Then again, they might hire a dental
technician to deal with the details. There’s also the
possibility of dental labs using this tech so there will
still be outsourcing involved but at least the
turnaround remains fast.
Let us also remember that Not Everyone Can Use
CAD/CAM Tech: Like with dental implants, your
dentist will first inform you if you’re good to go with
CAD/CAM or not. Sometimes, the old methods of
making a mold with your mouth is more viable
because the tech isn’t available, there are issues
with the intraoral scanner, it’s too expensive and
you’re willing to wait for the cheaper alternative,
you’re not covered by your dental insurance for
CAD/CAM, or you can’t handle same-day operations
unless you also pay for sedation dentistry because
of anxiety issues.
In our next issue, we will be talking about the
processes involved when undergoing CAD/CAM
Dentistry.