Status of current CAD/CAM technology in dental medicine.
This article provides an overview of the status of current CAD/CAM technology and possible development trends. In addition to a description of the different CAD/CAM components required for producing computer-assisted dental restorations, innovative design methods recently introduced into dental technology are also mentioned. In the description of the practical application of the current CAD/CAM systems, the possibilities and limits of the present-day techniques and future outlook are illustrated. In this context, the current range of materials available for the computer-assisted production of biocompatible and at the some time high-quality dental restorations is also discussed. In conclusion, the different economic concepts coming into consideration in view of the high investment costs of the current CAD/CAM systems are presented and discussed.
Clinic for Dental Prosthetics, University Clinic of the RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany. jtinschert@online.de
J
J
Tinschert
G
G
Natt
S
S
Hassenpflug
H
H
Spiekermann
D017076:Computer-Aided Design / Q000145:classification / Q000295:instrumentation; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003764:Dental Materials; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D003814:Dentistry, Operative; D006801:Humans; D013674:Technology, Dental / Q000295:instrumentation
D003764:Dental Materials