Materials In Digital Dentistry.. Are We There Yet?

CAD/CAM in dentistry is constantly growing becoming a user- and patient-friendly technology and service using intraoral scanners and laboratory/chairside milling units to manufacture dental restorations and appliances from multiple materials including wax, metals, composite resins, and ceramics. Properties of these materials may vary when compared to restorations prepared from conventional and additive manufacturing methods. Understanding the differences in these properties is important for material and fabrication method selection. Additive manufacturing is becoming an alternative to subtractive manufacturing in many applications. However, chemical composition, mechanical and physical properties of these materials are still lacking. 3D printed materials require a considerable amount of research and time to prove its clinical efficacy.

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