Intermediate Technical In the Industry Vocabulary Test

CAD/CAM

Pronunciation: KAD-kam

Also written as: CAD/CAM — Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing

Abbreviation for Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing, the digital workflow used to design and mill dental restorations.

Full Definition

CAD/CAM in dental laboratories refers to the combined use of 3D digital scanning, computer-aided design software, and CNC milling or 3D-printing equipment to fabricate crowns, bridges, veneers, and other restorations. The acronym is written with a slash and no spaces: CAD/CAM. Editors should use the full form 'computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing' on first mention in formal reports, with CAD/CAM acceptable thereafter. Common milling materials include zirconia, lithium disilicate, and PMMA.

Usage

Usage note: Always retain the slash and capitalise both acronyms: CAD/CAM. Do not write 'CADCAM' or 'Cad-Cam.'

In Context

"The laboratory's CAD/CAM unit produced a monolithic zirconia crown within four hours of receiving the scan." — Production log
"All CAD/CAM restorations must include a digital design file in the case documentation." — ISO 13485 quality manual

Also known as

digital fabrication mill-and-design workflow

Contrasted with

conventional (analogue) laboratory technique

Don't confuse with

CNC milling (subset of CAM) digital dentistry (broader term)

buccal corridor ← Back to glossary cameo surface