Compare and Contrast CEREC and CAD Milling Materials
Both the CEREC and CAD software programs allow dentists to design and modify dental restorations before the actual fabrication. The CEREC and CAD systems have a wide application in dentistry sector all over the world. The number of CEREC users in the world has increased in recent because the manufacturers have noticed the potential profit produced by CEREC materials. An incredible amount of research and innovation of new CEREC blocks both in the laboratory and chairside has been spurred by the increase in the number of CEREC users. On the other side, several CAD software programs are available for designing virtual dental restorations on a computer screen. The user of the CAD system has the option to modify the already designed dental restoration to fit his/her preferences. The CAM and CEREC systems have several similarities and differences in terms of restoration design, restoration fabrication, and restoration material used in each system.
CEREC systems use materials with sufficient strengths in the dental restoration process. However, some materials used in the CEREC restoration process are not strong enough. Some restoration materials used in the CEREC restoration systems are small particles in size. Due to their small size, the materials are available in polychromatic blocks, which means that some CEREC restoration materials can be used in aesthetic applications (Bohner, 208). CEREC restoration systems also allow the use of Vita Mark II that has high flexural strength making the CEREC process idea to be applied in inlays and crowns. The CEREC restoration design is a precise and high speed automated method that is preferred by many dentists while doing the restoration process. The CEREC primes can produce a 3-D image of the dental orientation of a patient. After the scanning process, the CEREC software generates several restoration proposals and designs to the dentist where the dentist selects the preferred restoration proposal most suitable to the patient. The CEREC milling and the CEREC software are optimally matched, which makes the restoration process more precise giving restorations smooth surfaces.
Computer-aided design (CAD) and Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) dental technology use computer systems to collect information and a wide range of materials to design dental restorations. CAD restoration systems include an array of materials in the process of fabricating the dental restorations. Some of the materials used in the CAD dental systems include the ceramics, metal alloys, and several composite materials. The ceramics that are mostly used in the CAD dental process are the alumina and the porcelain-based ceramics. The materials to be used in a particular CAD restoration process vary depending on the patients’ demands. The materials used in the CAD restoration process satisfy the demands for posterior crowns and fixed partial dentures. CAD software programs are used in designing 3-D dental restorations on a computer screen (Alghazzawi, 74). Some of the CAD software programs are known for designing excellent and accurate dental restorations. The advantage of using CAD systems in designing dental restorations is that the software programs are so automated that they require very minimal interaction between the user and the computer programs. The CAD software programs allow the operator to modify the restoration designs to meet the patent’s demand. Once the design is complete, the CAD software converts the design into commands that are used to fabricate the designed restoration.
In sum, the CEREC and CAD software programs have a wide application in the field of dentistry. Both the fabricating materials in CEREC and CAD systems depends on the demand of the patients who require dental restoration. The CEREC dental restoration system is much precise, the reason why many customers prefer the CEREC programs in their processes. The CAD software programs allow the operator to design and modify the restoration design with much easy. CAD software programs allow for less computer-user interaction that is not possible while using the CEREC software systems.
Works Cited
Bohner, Lauren Oliveira Lima, et al. “CEREC chairside system to register and design the occlusion in restorative dentistry: a systematic literature review.” Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry 28.4 (2016): 208-220.
Alghazzawi, Tariq F. “Advancements in CAD/CAM technology: Options for practical implementation.” Journal of Prosthodontic Research 60.2 (2016): 72-84.