The History of CAD/CAM in Dentistry
- Estimated Time: 60 min
- Credits: 1.0 CEU
- Passing Score: 70%
Course Overview
The field of dentistry has been transformed by computer-aided design and computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology, evolving from an industrial engineering concept into a cornerstone of modern restorative care. This course traces that evolution, beginning with François Duret's foundational vision in the 1970s through Dr. Werner Mörmann's development of the CEREC System in the 1980s, and on to Dr. Matts Andersson's contributions to titanium coping fabrication. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how these pioneering efforts shaped the digital workflows dental professionals rely on today.
Beyond the historical milestones, this course examines the core components that make dental CAD/CAM possible: digital impression and scanning devices, design software, and milling or 3D printing fabrication methods. It also explores how dental materials have diversified over time, from early feldspar-based ceramics to today's high-strength zirconia and shade-layered blocks. By understanding this progression, dental professionals can better appreciate how chairside and laboratory-based systems fit into contemporary restorative workflows.
This historical grounding prepares participants for more advanced coursework in CAD/CAM applications by providing context for why current systems are designed the way they are, and how open architecture and digital collaboration have reshaped the relationship between dentists, laboratories, and milling centers.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the origins of CAD/CAM technology in industrial applications and identify the key figures responsible for its introduction to dentistry, including François Duret, Dr. Werner Mörmann, and Dr. Matts Andersson.
- Explain the three core processes that comprise dental CAD/CAM: data or image acquisition, computer-aided design, and computer-assisted manufacturing.
- Differentiate between chairside, laboratory, and milling center production environments and identify which CAD/CAM systems support each.
- Compare digital impression scanning technologies, including their benefits over traditional analog impression techniques and the file formats used to transfer digital data.
- Identify the evolution of dental CAD/CAM materials, from early feldspar-based ceramics to modern high-strength and esthetically layered restorative options.
- Distinguish between subtractive (milling) and additive (3D printing) manufacturing processes and their respective applications in dentistry.
- Recognize the shift from proprietary, closed CAD/CAM systems toward open architecture platforms and its impact on collaboration between dentists, laboratories, and specialists.
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