CAD/CAM Dentistry: Digital Impressions, Workflow, Benefits & Limitations

CAD/CAM dentistry computer-aided design and manufacturing CAD/CAM dentistry uses computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) to design and produce dental restorations and appliances. Depending on the case, digital impressions, CAD software, milling or 3D printing, and laboratory or chairside steps may be combined into one workflow.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Walter Kostrzewski, DMD
Dr. Kostrzewski has more than two decades of experience in dentistry and reviews the dental information published by ACE Dental Resource.

CAD/CAM can make some restorative workflows more digital and efficient, but “same-day dentistry” is not a guarantee. The restoration type, material, case complexity, equipment, laboratory involvement and clinical judgment determine how long treatment takes. [1][2]

What is CAD/CAM dentistry?

CAD is the computer-based design stage. CAM is the manufacturing stage. A dental practice or laboratory can use the two together to create restorations such as crowns, inlays, onlays, veneers, bridges, implant restorations and selected removable prostheses.

Digital step	What happens	Possible benefit
Digital scan	An intraoral scanner records the teeth and surrounding structures.	Can avoid conventional impression material and create a digital file.
CAD design	Software creates or modifies the proposed restoration.	Allows digital planning, measurement and modification.
CAM manufacture	A milling machine or 3D printer produces the planned object.	Can improve workflow reproducibility and reduce some manual laboratory steps.
Finishing and verification	The dentist or laboratory checks contacts, fit, occlusion, appearance and material-specific requirements.	Digital production does not remove the need for clinical quality control.

How the CAD/CAM workflow works

1. Scanning or digital data capture

An intraoral scanner can capture a digital impression of the teeth. The ADA notes that scanners are used for crowns, inlays, onlays, fixed prostheses, aligners, implant surgical guides and other applications, but accuracy varies with the clinical situation and scanning technique. [1]

2. Computer-aided design

The digital model is used to design the restoration. Software can help establish the shape, contacts and occlusal relationships, but the dentist remains responsible for determining whether the proposed restoration is clinically appropriate.

3. Manufacturing

The design can be manufactured by subtractive milling from a prefabricated block or by an additive process such as 3D printing. Some cases are completed in the dental office; others are sent to a laboratory.

4. Clinical try-in and placement

The finished restoration still needs clinical assessment. Fit, contacts, occlusion, margins, esthetics, material requirements and the condition of the tooth all matter before final placement.

Are digital impressions as accurate as conventional impressions?

Evidence is generally reassuring for many single-unit and short-span restorative applications, but it is not accurate to say digital impressions are always more accurate. A systematic review and meta-analysis of single-unit ceramic crowns found clinically acceptable digital workflows and no statistically significant overall disadvantage compared with conventional impressions, while another systematic review found direct digital impressions produced better marginal fit than indirect digital impressions for CAD/CAM crowns. [2][3]

What can CAD/CAM make?

Application	Typical role	Does it always mean one visit?
Crowns	Single-tooth restorations	No. Some can be completed chairside, while others involve a laboratory.
Inlays and onlays	Partial-coverage restorations	Sometimes, depending on the workflow and material.
Veneers	Selected cosmetic restorations	Usually requires planning and laboratory or chairside steps; case dependent.
Bridges	Fixed replacement of missing teeth	Often involves laboratory fabrication and multiple clinical steps.
Implant restorations	Crowns, bridges and overdentures	Timing depends on implant healing, records and the restoration.
Complete dentures	Digital denture design and manufacture	Digital workflows can reduce some visits, but treatment still requires clinical appointments.

What does the evidence say about digital dentures?

Systematic reviews suggest CAD/CAM dentures can achieve outcomes comparable with conventional dentures, with some studies finding advantages in retention, working time or the number of adjustment visits. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis found CAD/CAM complete dentures were comparable with conventional dentures for overall patient satisfaction and oral-health-related quality of life, while costs and clinician outcomes varied by manufacturing method. [4][5]

Evidence is also expanding for implant-retained overdentures. A 2026 systematic review of nine clinical studies reported favorable clinical performance and similar or better patient-reported outcomes for digitally fabricated implant-retained overdentures, but the evidence remains application-specific rather than proof that every digital workflow is superior. [6]

Potential advantages of CAD/CAM

Digital records can be stored and transferred electronically.
Some workflows can reduce the number of clinical or laboratory steps.
Digital designs can be reproduced or modified more easily than some conventional records.
Selected chairside workflows can provide a restoration in one appointment.
Digital planning can improve communication between the dental office and laboratory.

Limitations and trade-offs

Not every restoration or patient is suitable for a chairside workflow.
Scanner accuracy can be affected by moisture, blood, limited access, preparation geometry and operator technique.
Large or complex scans can present different accuracy challenges from single-tooth scans.
Equipment, software subscriptions, maintenance and training add cost for practices.
Digital manufacturing still requires material-specific finishing, bonding and quality control.

CAD/CAM versus conventional dentistry

Factor	Digital CAD/CAM	Conventional workflow
Impression	Often an intraoral scan	Physical impression material may be used
Design	Computer-based	May be laboratory-based using physical models
Manufacturing	Milling or 3D printing	Conventional laboratory fabrication
Visits	Can be fewer for selected cases	May require temporaries and additional visits
Accuracy	Strong evidence for many applications, but technique and indication matter	Established workflow with its own technique-sensitive steps

Questions to ask before choosing a digital restoration

Is a digital workflow appropriate for my particular tooth and restoration?
Will my restoration be made in the office or by a laboratory?
Which material is being used and why?
How will the dentist verify fit and bite before final placement?
Does digital treatment actually reduce visits in my case?
What are the conventional alternatives?