What is CAD/CAM?
Definition
CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) is the digital workflow in which crowns, veneers, bridges and implant parts are designed on a computer and then milled or 3D-printed.
The process usually starts with an intraoral scan instead of impression trays. The restoration is designed on screen to fit the prepared tooth and the bite, then milled from a ceramic block or printed, and finally stained, layered or polished by hand. At Creative Arts in Dubai, the scan, design, milling and hand finishing take place in the clinic and Creative Art Dental Lab, in the same building; typical lab time is 3–5 working days, and crowns and veneers are not made on the same day.
Ask which steps of your restoration are digital and which are finished by hand, especially for front teeth where colour and translucency matter. Ask whether your scan files can be shared if you need them later, and how the design is checked against your bite.
Questions about CAD/CAM
Does CAD/CAM mean my crown is made entirely by a machine?
No. CAD/CAM handles the design and the shaping: the crown is designed on a computer and milled or printed precisely. For a natural result, a ceramist then stains, layers or glazes it by hand, and checks the fit and contacts on the model. Front-tooth work in particular depends on this hand finishing for colour and translucency.
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