Dentistry a la Carte: In-office CAD/CAM Technology

This article examines the differences among four in-office computeraided design/computer-aided manufacturing restorative technologies. Two acquisition media systems, 3M ESPE's Lava COS and Cadent's iTero, are compared and contrasted. Additionally, two acquisition and manufacturing media, Sirona's Cerec AC and D4D's E4D, are examined. Image acquisition techniques and cast fabrication methodologies are compared between Lava COS and iTero. In addition, image acquisition, cast fabrication, and restoration fabrication methodologies are discussed as related to Cerec AC and E4D. Strategies for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing incorporation into practice are explored.