Utilization of digital technologies in prosthetic appliances fabrication – On the basis of literature

Abstract

In the era of computerization, digital technologies have found their place in dental industry: in dental clinics in the form of intraoral scanners and 3D cameras, and in modern prosthetic laboratories as CAD/CAM systems or 3D printers. CAD/CAM systems consist of three main parts: scanners, programming module and milling machines. Scanners are used to transfer oral conditions to a computer. The programming module is used for virtual designing of prosthetic appliances on virtual cast, and calculating milling parameters. Milling machines are intended to make different types of prosthetic appliances using Cr-Co alloys, titanium, zirconia, and new generation polymers. 3D printers allow printing 3D models but they can be an alternative for performing and subtractive milling in the field of computer-aided manufacturing. They allow for more accurate scanning, better planning and more automated production techniques, which significantly affects the precision of final work. The cooperation of dental technicians and dentists, using innovative digital methods, can bring much better results than traditional proceedings.