CAD/CAM - international magazine of digital dentistry

22 I I case report _ CAD/CAM restoration _Today’s consumers are always searching for the ultimate bargain, even when it comes to their dental care. They want high-quality re- sults and minimally invasive treatments. The majority of modern dental procedures and techniques are trend- ing toward satisfying these demands. As a result, CAD/CAM technology has been incor- porated into an increasing numberofdentalprocedures, enabling dentists and their teams to offer state-of-the- artcaretopatientsinhalfthe time of traditional methods. Moreover, when it comes to implant-supported restorations, CAD/CAM technology efficiently and effectively produces restorations that demonstrate high-strength properties for durable, long-lasting results that can withstand implant forces. Research has shown that aesthetic, ceramic, CAD/CAM-fabricated molar crowns supported by implants gained high strength values when used in conjunction with adhesive cements, particu- larly in cases with titanium and zirconia implant abutments.1, 2 One of the most challenging aspects of a restora- tive case, however, is matching the abutment, resto- ration and adjacent dentition in perfect harmony. Thisisespeciallydifficultwithsingle-unitrestoration cases because human dentition exhibits different colours,shades,tonesandhues.Itneverpresentsone simple colour found on the standard shade guide. Yet, using highly aesthetic lithium-disilicate valueblocks(IPSe.maxCAD,IvoclarVivadent)milled in the E4D in-office CAD/CAM system, dentists can create restorations that are durable, strong and indistinguishablefromsurroundingdentition,facili- tating the highest level of aesthetics and function. _Material selection/fabrication The E4D in-office CAD/CAM system enables clinicians to design, fabricate and place first-rate aesthetic restorations in a single visit. The high- quality ceramic restorations also demonstrate excellent strength, fit and longevity suitable for a broad range of indications and contribute to predictable outcomes.3, 4 Among the benefits of utilizing the E4D in-office CAD/CAM system to design and fabricate lithium- disilicate restorations is the ability to capture state of-the-art,powder-freedigitalimpressions.Thesecan betakenfrommultipleanglesforcustomizedaccuracy and optimal efficiency. Additionally, both hard and soft tissues can be scanned, depending on the case. Preparation and margin assessment are com- pletedsimultaneously,andhigh-techsoftwarefab- CAD/CAM 4_2013 (Photos courtesy of Dr Walter J. Renee) Fig. 1_Patient presented with retained primary molars 55 and 65. Fig. 1 Restoring implants using lithium-disilicate, CAD/CAM fabricated restorations Author_ Dr Walter G. Renee, USA Fig. 11