Learn the key techniques that dental CAD designers use to achieve precise margins, ideal occlusion, and natural aesthetics in crown and bridge restorations.
Crown and bridge CAD design is one of the most common — and most demanding — tasks in a modern dental laboratory. Getting it right requires attention to detail at every step, from scan quality to final output.
1. Start with a clean scan. Garbage in, garbage out. Make sure your intraoral or desktop scan has no voids, noise, or artifacts around the preparation margins before you begin designing.
2. Set correct insertion axis early. Defining the insertion axis before you start designing saves time and prevents undercut issues that are hard to fix later in the workflow.
3. Use anatomical libraries wisely. Pre-designed tooth libraries are a great starting point, but always adjust the morphology to match the patient's adjacent and opposing teeth for a natural result.
4. Check contacts and occlusion carefully. Static and dynamic occlusion checks should be done before finalizing. Even a small premature contact can cause post-op sensitivity or failure.
5. Respect minimum material thickness. Always verify that your design meets the minimum thickness requirements for the chosen material — whether zirconia, e.max, or PMMA — to avoid fractures after milling.
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