Re-cad/cam Approach in Design and Manufacturing of Dental Ceramic Crowns in Combination with Manual Individualization

CAD/CAM technology in dentistry offers high-end ceramic restorations, known for its quality, preciseness, swiftness and repeatability. However, some features are still human-dependent. A young female patient required smile enhancement, since suffering from colour change on three devitalized frontal teeth. After fiber post placement, teeth were prepared for metal-free restoration. Consequently, abutments were scanned using extraoral scanner (Sirona, InEos Blue; Beinsheim, Germany). CAD software (version 3.8) has been used to create three crown copings, with cut-back in the incisal region. After finalization of the virtual modeling, data file has been transferred to a milling unit (Sirona, MCXL, Beinsheim, Germany) that produced crown copings out of a ceramic block (IPS e.max CAD, Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtestein). Crowns were tried for the fit and occlusion in the so-called blue stage, after which final strength and shape has been achieved by thermal treatment in the ceramic furnace. Individualization has been done manually, creating special effect in the cut-back region. Crowns were cemented adhesively. CAD/CAM offers modern and relevant way of producing ceramic restorations, however, special effects still require manual adjustments.