The CAD / CAM Technology in the Contemporary Dental Laboratory Practices

Abstract

This paper researches the effect of adopting Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology in a dental lab in relation to accuracy, efficiency and overall lab functioning. The mixed-method research design was used to combine quantitative data collected by the means of 270 distributed questionnaires and qualitative information collected as a result of semi-structured interviews with dental technicians. Data was analyzed through SPSS software with descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-test, and ANOVA and a significant difference between laboratory settings was identified.

The findings found out that sixty-eight percent of the laboratories have introduced the CAD/CAM systems with great achievements in the accuracy of restorations, production time, and consistency in contrast to the traditional methods. Digital workflows minimized the fabrication errors by 28 and the working time was shortened by 34. In addition, implementation of CAD/CAM technology helped in boosting interdepartmental coordination and patient satisfaction by means of quality control. The themes revealed in qualitative data were three overarching themes, namely, the efficiency of the implemented technology, employee training and adjustment, and financial issues.  Although the majority of technicians indicated being highly satisfied with digital tools, such barriers as the initial costs of investments and the necessity of receiving specialized training were frequently mentioned.In general, the results prove the idea that CAD/CAM systems can greatly enhance the quality and productivity of final laboratory results, and continuous education and resources support are important. The research paper finds that the adoption of digital dentistry technologies is a paradigm shift to precision-based, effective and individualized dental care.