Computer aided design and manufacturing of dental restorations - “computerized impression” technology

Abstract

CAD/CAM technology (Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Manufacturing) in the matter of fact helps in design and development of two-dimensional or three-dimensional models and their realization on numerical controlled machines. The key to direct or indirect CAD/CAM dental restorations is the measurement of dental preparation in the mouth or on the plaster die. The aim of this paper is to describe the possibilities and the way of function of different computer aided inspection (CAI) systems as a first part of CAD/CAM systems. Different researchers have presented several approaches of methods for three dimensional (3D) measurement. Today, for chairside dental treatment, only the optical method of measurement has lead to satisfactory results in practice. Laboratory CAD/CAM systems use mechanical and optical technologies for 3D measurement. Optical impression grows as a leader of CAI segment of almost every new CAD/CAM system. The most important properties of 3D scanners are: accuracy, volume and speed of measurement and ergonomy of instrument. .