Facts about CAD/CAM dentures
Definition:
Fabrication of high-quality dentures using computer-aided technology
Range of applications:
Implant restorations, crowns, bridges or dentures, multiple indications
Duration of treatment:
2-5 minutes scan
Many patients associate a dental impression with unpleasant impression material that has to remain in the mouth for several minutes and often triggers a gag reflex. In order to offer our patients the best possible comfort, we use modern intraoral 3D scanners in our dental practice in Zurich so that we can dispense with the conventional impression material.
In addition to traditional methods, we also offer the impression-free method with scanners for planning dentures. This enables us to create a precise, three-dimensional image of your dental situation. With the help of CAD/CAM technology, we can produce not only crowns and bridges, but also dentures and implants. An intelligent software programme first creates a design (CAD: Computer Aided Design) and forwards this directly to the production unit (CAM: Computer Aided Manufacturing).
Frequently asked questions about impression-free treatment
When is an intraoral scan required?
We carry out an impression-free optical scan at our dental practice in Zurich, especially if the patient wants and needs to be fitted with modern dentures. With this highly developed technology, we can obtain a comprehensive picture of the patient's teeth without restricting their comfort. In addition, CAD/CAM technology eliminates the costs of conventional dental technology, making this procedure significantly more cost-effective.
What are the advantages of CAD/CAM technology?
The main advantage lies in the increased patient comfort. There is no need to take impressions using cumbersome and unpleasant impression material, which has to remain in the mouth for longer. The digital impression usually only takes two minutes and is therefore much faster. Patients also do not suffer from gagging during the process. Modern technology also allows direct networking of the scanner, computer and milling unit, which significantly speeds up the production of the dentures. The dentures can also be customised to match the natural teeth exactly. Our scanner has a detailed colour determination function, allowing the dentures to be precisely individualised . You also have the opportunity to take a look at the digital simulation of your result in advance.
Does the intraoral scan also harbour risks?
There are no known risks associated with CAD/CAM treatment with its technology that has been refined over the decades.
Areas of application
- Inlays and onlays
- Veneers
- Dentures on implants (ceramic implant crowns and bridges)
- Partial crowns
- Crowns (frameworks)
- Bridges (scaffolding)
- Bridges
- Attachment
- In case of intolerance to metal alloys (use of ceramics)
When is the CAD/CAM procedure an option?
CAD/CAM technology offers us a wide range of possibilities. Not only can the surface of the prepared tooth be precisely recorded, but the restoration can also be processed directly afterwards by networking with our state-of-the-art milling unit. The software program transfers the three-dimensional image to the milling robot, which then constructs a restoration taking into account the neighbouring and opposing teeth.
The anterior teeth can also be restored to a high aesthetic standard. For bridges and crowns, a framework is first fabricated using CAD/CAM technology and then veneered by an experienced dental technician with a ceramic material by hand and customised to create a highly aesthetic result. Several layers of colour are applied to the dentures so that they do not stand out from the natural teeth.
In contrast, dentures for the posterior region are made in a so-called monolithic procedure, i.e. from a single piece. Materials used in CAD/CAM technology include feldspar, glass ceramic and zirconium dioxide. In each case, we make sure that we use the right high-quality and biocompatible materials for you.
Treatment procedure
At our dental practice in Zurich, we first take a three-dimensional image of your teeth and jaws to get a comprehensive picture of the current situation. However, we do not take conventional impressions with unpleasant impression material. Instead, we use ultra-modern intraoral scanning devices, which enable efficient and comfortable impressions to be taken without gagging.
Our modern software programme provides us with the high-quality images directly after the comfortable examination. On this basis, our system provides detailed suggestions for the design of the occlusal surfaces, taking into account the patient's own teeth. We discuss these suggestions with you and then customise the selection to your individual wishes and requirements. The design is then digitally transferred to our milling unit. This quickly produces the dentures from high-quality ceramic materials. Our dental technician then polishes and customises the finished dentures by hand.
Contact
Dentist Zurich - finest smile
Seidengasse 20
8001 Zurich
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday
7:00 am to 8:00 pm
Phone
044 504 57 56