Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
CAD/CAM dentistry in Pompano Beach means that a crown, inlay, onlay or veneer is designed on a computer from a digital scan and cut by a milling machine from a solid block of ceramic, rather than modeled by hand from an impression. At South Florida Smile Spa the chain runs from the iTero scanner to design software to an in-office mill for same-day single-tooth restorations, and from the same scan to a dental laboratory’s CAD/CAM systems for veneers, bridges and implant work. Dr. Nicole M. Berger designs the in-office restorations herself, which is why the fit, the bite and the shade are checked on screen before anything is made. This page explains the computer-aided design and manufacturing process, the materials it uses, what it is used for and where traditional hand craftsmanship still wins.
Quick answer
CAD/CAM stands for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. In dentistry it means a restoration is designed digitally from an intra-oral scan and milled or printed by machine from ceramic, zirconia or resin, instead of being waxed and cast by hand from a putty impression. At South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach, in-office CAD/CAM with the CEREC system produces same-day crowns, inlays, onlays and implant crowns, while lab-based CAD/CAM from the same scan produces veneers, bridges, zirconia crowns, nightguards and surgical guides for implants. The benefits are precision, speed, consistency and strong metal-free materials; the limitation is that hand-layered porcelain still gives the most lifelike front teeth, so cosmetic cases combine both.
The Process
CAD/CAM dentistry in Pompano Beach: from scan to finished restoration
Three steps replace the impression, the wax-up and the casting. Each one is checked on screen before the next.
- Scan. The iTero captures the prepared tooth, the neighbors and the bite as a 3D model in minutes.
- Design. Software proposes a restoration shaped from a library of natural teeth; Dr. Berger adjusts contacts, bite and contour on screen.
- Mill or print. A milling unit cuts the design from a block of lithium disilicate, zirconia or hybrid ceramic; resin guides and appliances are 3D printed.
- Finish. The restoration is stained, glazed and fired, or polished, to match the neighboring teeth.
- Fit. Because the design was checked against the bite, seating usually needs minimal adjustment.
The American Dental Association’s page on crowns describes the restorations themselves; CAD/CAM changes how they are made, not when they are needed.
What It Makes
What CAD/CAM is used for at South Florida Smile Spa
- Same-day crowns, inlays and onlays. Designed and milled in the office with CEREC, bonded in one visit.
- Implant crowns and abutments. Custom abutments and crowns designed on the scan of the implant position.
- Zirconia crowns and bridges. Milled at the lab from the same digital file for strength on back teeth.
- Veneers. Designed digitally from a smile plan, then milled or pressed and layered by hand at the lab for front-tooth translucency.
- Guides and appliances. Printed surgical guides for implant placement, nightguards, retainers and whitening trays.
Materials
The blocks milled in the office are lithium disilicate, a glass ceramic with excellent strength and natural translucency for crowns and onlays, and zirconia-reinforced or hybrid ceramics where more flexibility is wanted. Monolithic zirconia, milled at the lab, is the strongest tooth-colored material available and is used for molar crowns and bridges in heavy biters. All are metal-free and bonded or cemented to the tooth. Our dental crowns page compares the materials for different teeth.
Where hand craftsmanship still wins
A milled restoration is uniformly one material through its thickness. A natural front tooth is not: it is more translucent at the edge, more saturated near the gum, with subtle character in between. For upper front teeth, veneers and a full smile makeover, Dr. Berger has the restoration designed digitally for fit and then layered by a ceramist for appearance. The scan and the digital design are still the foundation; the artistry is added on top.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why patients choose South Florida Smile Spa for digitally made restorations
- Designed by the dentist. In-office restorations are shaped and checked on screen by Dr. Berger, not approved from a photo.
- Fit checked before milling. Contacts and bite verified on the model, so seating needs little adjustment.
- Same day where it fits. Single crowns, inlays and onlays in one visit.
- Strong, metal-free materials. Lithium disilicate, zirconia and hybrid ceramics.
- Artistry where it shows. Front-tooth cases combine digital design with hand-layered porcelain.
Patients come to us from Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek for care planned with the imaging and tools described on this page.
A crown or restoration designed to fit the first time
Book with Dr. Berger. Scan, design and milling in the office for most single restorations, in one visit.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CAD/CAM mean in dentistry?
Computer-aided design and manufacturing: a restoration is designed on screen from a digital scan and milled or printed by machine, replacing impressions, wax models and casting. At South Florida Smile Spa it is done in the office with CEREC and at the lab from the same scan.
Is a milled crown as good as a lab crown?
For single back-tooth crowns, inlays and onlays, yes, and it is finished the same day. For front teeth and veneers, a lab ceramist layers porcelain onto the digital design for the most natural look.
What materials are used?
Lithium disilicate and hybrid ceramics for in-office milling, monolithic zirconia for strength on molars and bridges, and printed resins for surgical guides and appliances. All are metal-free.
Does CAD/CAM cost more?
No. A milled crown is priced and insured as a crown. In-office milling saves a second visit and a temporary.
Are implant crowns made this way?
Yes. The implant position is scanned, and a custom abutment and crown are designed and milled to fit it precisely; surgical guides for placing the implant are printed from the 3D plan.
Do you see patients from outside Pompano Beach?
Yes. Patients come from Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and across Broward County, and most CAD/CAM restorations are finished in a single visit. The office is at 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach. Call (954) 785-1100 or request an appointment.