`CAD-CAM IN REMOVABLE PROSTHODONTICS`

There is no doubt that CAD/CAM will continue to play an increasing role as part of routine dental practice. It is obvious that the technology offers a more streamlined and efficient means of treatment planning and delivery of care through reduced chairside time. Improved patient satisfaction and reported preference is also a major advantage of CAD/CAM. Moreover, the fact that dentists-in-training experience less difficulty using CAD/ CAM, reporting their willingness to adopt it upon graduation, compared to conventional techniques and experienced clinicians, indicates that the conventional workflow has reached, if not passed, its peak-use and will eventually be phased out in the near future. Nonetheless, at the moment, the accuracy and treatment outcomes of CAD/CAM treatment modalities are inconsistent and do not suppoft a superior performance to conventional techniques, rather a comparable one. The introduction of a standardised testing method for non-contact intraoral scanning would greatly assist in comparing the results of varying studies and minimise existing conflict in findings. There is still much room for improvement.