Advantages and properties of CAD-CAM restorative materials

Introduction: Computer-aided design (CAD) / computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technology has been growing world-wide since 1985 when CEREC system was introduced. CAD-CAM process seems to have acceptable fit, decrease time for fabrication and laboratory, reduce limitation and wastage of materials, ease to transfer, repeatability and minimize errors. However,the conventional methods have been error-prone, complex, technique sensitive, time-consuming, and unpredictable outcomes. Nowadays large number of restorative materials such as metal alloys, ceramics(Glass-Ceramics(Silica-based), Feldspathic, Leucite-reinforced, Lithium silicate/Disilicate Ceramics, Oxide Ceramics), Resin(PMMA(polymethyl methacrylate), Resin composites, Nanoceramics, and High Performance Polymers(HPP)), Resin- Matrix Ceramics(RMC)( Resin-based Ceramics, Hybrid Ceramics, PICN (Polymer-Infilterated ceramic network material)) are available in the market. Multiple options are now available for fabricating restoration for materials (Dentsply, Ivoclar-Vivadent , VITA Zahnfabrik), and software(3Shape, ExoCad, FreeForm). This study will review current available materials, their indications, properties and outcomes for CAD/CAM restorations. Methods and material: An electronic search of literature was mainly through Pubmed, Science Direct, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar. Finaly 47 articles were selected. Results: Analyzing Their Bond Strength, Fatigue resistance, Flexural strength, elastic constants, microstructural characterization, accuracy and clinical success showed variable outcomes. Several studies had reported at least accurate outcomes in comparison to conventional methods. Studies have reported advantages for CAD-CAM technology such as easy and selective repeatability, time-saving, eliminating transport and delivery fees, easy archivability, material savings, patient satisfaction, and true-color display for tooth and gingival visualization. Studies have shown that total survival rate after 5 years was 89.7% Conclusion: CAD/CAM applications offer a standardized fabricating procedure resulting in a reliable, predictable, and economic workflow. However, for low long-term clinical data, future studies to address the long-term clinical performance of CAD-CAM materials are needed.