Countering Business Threats With CAD/CAM

Competition from in-clinic milling

Using in-clinic milling, dentists can set up their own manufacturing service to produce the final crowns directly in their clinic. This naturally means less business for the lab.

Dentists who invest in in-clinic milling are clearly motivated by the opportunity to significantly reduce their lab service costs. However, the ROI calculations they are presented with will often be based on prices from traditional labs that still use manual technician methods.

Labs equipped to use CAD/CAM can be more productive and thereby provide restoration services at lower prices than traditional labs while maintaining a high level of quality. Digital labs are closing the price gap between lab services and in-clinic milling, making in-clinic milling systems less attractive and changing the dentist's investment priorities. Dentists who obtain cost-efficient services by using digital labs will potentially be able to realize more business profit from...