Chart Your Technology Course Series: How your lab can embrace CAD/CAM

As part of our Chart Your Technology Course Series, the DLP editorial team outlines all the different paths for embracing CAD/CAM and becoming a high-tech lab.

Adopting any technology into your lab isn’t intended to be a sprint. The process requires thoughtful planning, financial preparation and total team buy-in to facilitate success.

Here, we lay out different entry points (or growth points) on the way to incorporating CAD/CAM in a serious way:

> A soft launch into CAD/CAM

Adding a design station is probably the lowest-impact way to bring some in-house CAD/CAM to your lab.

> What closed-architecture scanner is right for your lab?

Closed-architecture scanners are about linking up with a partner ready to provide both technology and production.

> How to achieve the ultimate bond with CAD/CAM blocks

Help your dentists choose a cement that will deliver optimum bonding to the CAD/CAM restorations your lab creates. Following are key considerations to keep in mind.

> The workflow possibilities with open-architecture scanners

Open-architecture scanners make it easy to connect your lab to an almost limitless range of workflow options.

> Benefits of in-house lab, start-to-finish CAD/CAM systems

Systems with a scanner, software and a mill allow labs of all sizes to bring start-to-finish CAD/CAM capabilities in-house.

> How a stand-alone mill can help your lab take complete control of finalized productions

A large-capacity mill brings versatility and self-sufficient production to labs fully invested in CAD/CAM production.

Adding a 3D printer to your lab can increase precision and accuracy while reducing production and finishing times.

> How to find the right level of CAD/CAM integration for your lab

Even labs that don’t plan to invest in CAD/CAM technology are likely to work with milled restorations at some point.