An overview of application of CAD/CAM in dentistry (Part I)

Today، new developments in the field of computer hardware and software have led to the production of advanced equipment and devices in industry، including the dental field. One of these devices is computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacture (CAM) system. CAD/CAM systems are able to collect data and design and manufacture a wide range of dental restorations such as inlays، onlays، veneers، crowns، fixed partial dentures، orthodontic appliances and dental implant abutments. The aim of this article is to review the history of CAD/CAM، types of available CAD/CAM systems، how they function and application concepts in digital dentistry. Article description: This article was collected by scientific search in electronic resources، books، Pubmed and ISI Web of Science websites، in articles published in English until 2013، and with the following key words: history، advantages and disadvantages، an overview of the components and the performance of CAD/CAM systems in dentistry. In recent years، digital technology is advancing rapidly in dentistry and now it can be applied to almost any restorative situation، including full-mouth rehabilitation. Computer technology has made fabrication of restorations easier، faster، cheaper and more predictable than before. While there are many benefits for dental digital systems، it is necessary for the dental team to master their function in order to maximize their advantages for creating well-fitting restorations.