CAD0210

I 03 editorial _ CAD/CAM I CAD/CAM 2_2010 Dr Sharnell Muir _Dentistry is on the move! Today’s patients expect to be treated with the latest technol- ogy and materials to maximise their dental experience. As clinicians, we owe it to our profes- sion and to our patients to utilise the newest technologies according to best practices that will elevate our care without compromise. I have adopted this approach to dentistry by inte- grating chairside CAD/CAM dentistry (E4D Dentist System, D4D Technologies) and in-office CBCT (i-CAT, Imaging Sciences International) into my practice. With the E4D system, I am able to control my indirect restorative dentistry, without having toeliminatethelaboratoryorthetechnician.Iamabletomoreappropriatelycoordinatesingle toothtreatmentchairsidewithIPSEmpressCADandIPSe.maxCADmaterials(IvoclarVivadent), as well as provide more comprehensive options to meet my patients’ needs. In today’s world, CAD/CAMdentistryhasgivenustheabilitytoofferreliable,in-office,same-dayandhighqual- ity indirect restorations to our patients. With the laser scanning capability of E4D, I can scan in the mouth, off an impression or off a model, providing total flexibility in patient treatment. In addition, the ease of use of the software and flow of production make it easy to delegate procedures to properly trained dental assistants for beautiful and functional results. Generally, the same applies to the benefits of utilising my i-CAT. I can offer my patients the latest in cone-beam technology for diagnosis and treatment planning without having to go elsewhere or make additional appointments. The future combined use of technologies utilising intra-oral scans and CBCT data provides a unique view of a virtual patient prior to completinganytreatment.Thiswillprovidetheclinician,officeteam,dentallaboratoriesand especiallythepatientwithauniqueviewofthetreatmentplan,eliminatesurprisesinimplant placementandharmoniseanticipatedresultswhenallhavethesame‘view’oftheentirecase, from start to finish. The goal is to experience true restorative-driven implant therapy. D4DTechnologiesandtheImagingSciencesgroup,withthegroupsfromGendex(CB500) and Instrumentarium (Scanora), are developing a software solution that combines digital data from intra-oral scans with 3-D surgical data (CBCT) to provide complete control and make restorative-driven implant therapy a reality. Through the dynamic collaboration of these dental technology leaders, future dentistry will use these technologies in harmony. For the general dentist, the collaborative efforts of leading digital scanning companies and cone-beam manufacturers will enable the expansion of same-day restorative care to same- daysurgicalplacementofimplantsusingcone-beamguidanceandtheimmediateplacement of an in-office and CAD/CAM restoration. Mypatientsare3-DandIbelievemytreatmentshouldbeaswell.Practisinginthismanner offers great advantages in treatment options and predictability. Dentistry is on the move, so ourpatientsdon’thaveto!Getonboardwiththelatestinmoderndentistry—you,yourteam, your practice and your patients deserve it. Yours faithfully, Dr Sharnell Muir Kelowna Dental Centre Kelowna, BC, Canada Dear Reader,