BluSky Dental Richardson
Digital tools can help turn the shape of your prepared tooth into a custom restoration. CAD/CAM dentistry connects a record of your mouth with computer-based design and manufacturing. The aim is a restoration that fits, functions and can be cared for comfortably.
CAD means computer-aided design. CAM means computer-aided manufacturing. In dentistry, these tools may be used to plan and produce crowns, inlays, onlays or other restorations, depending on the system and clinical situation.
A digital workflow can happen within a clinic, through a dental laboratory or across both. Digital does not automatically mean same-day treatment. Your tooth, material choice and production arrangements determine how the steps are organized.
At BluSky Richardson, ask which workflow is appropriate for your restoration and where each stage will happen. Convenience matters, but the clinical requirements come first.
After the tooth is assessed and prepared, its shape is recorded. An intraoral scan may capture the prepared area and nearby teeth. The opposite arch and bite also help show the space the restoration needs to occupy.
Some situations still call for a conventional impression or additional records. Moisture, visibility and the position of the preparation can affect what produces a useful record.
Software helps develop the shape, but the clinician or laboratory still makes decisions. The margin needs to relate properly to the tooth; contacts need to work with neighbouring teeth; the bite needs to be checked against the rest of the mouth.
The screen is a design tool. It does not replace the checks required in your mouth before the restoration is accepted.
Depending on the material and system, the restoration may be milled and then require additional processing, finishing or characterization. Laboratory involvement may be useful for particular materials, appearance requirements or complex cases.
The dentist checks the fit, colour, contacts and bite. Adjustments may be needed before it is bonded or cemented according to the chosen material. A restoration should not be placed simply because the machine has finished making it.
For a suitable tooth and available workflow, preparation and fitting may be completed in one visit. That can reduce the need for a temporary crown and a return appointment. It can also mean a longer block of time at the clinic.
Other cases benefit from a laboratory stage, gum healing or additional treatment first. Our same-day crowns page explains the scheduling and candidacy questions in more detail. Confirm arrangements before planning your day around a single visit.
The amount of healthy tooth left, existing cracks, chewing forces and appearance all influence the choice. A partial-coverage restoration may be suitable in one situation; a dental crown may be more appropriate in another.
Ask why the recommended design and material suit your tooth. The way a restoration is made is only one part of the decision. You should also understand what tooth preparation is needed, whether a temporary restoration is expected and how repair or replacement would be handled later.
Keep cleaning the restored tooth and its gumline. Decay can still develop where natural tooth structure meets a restoration. Report a bite that feels high, persistent discomfort or difficulty cleaning between teeth so it can be reviewed.
No. The clinician chooses records that are suitable for the task. A digital scan is useful in many circumstances, but it is not the answer to every recording problem.
Ask for an estimate covering the actual restoration and its stages. A description of the technology alone does not explain the total cost.
Book a Visit to discuss a restoration plan for your tooth.
Tell us what you would like help with and ask about your next visit.
Call: (613) 829-5921
Address: 510 Richardson Ave, Ottawa, ON K2B 5H1
