Basic CAD/CAM Principles

CAD/CAM abbreviations for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing have now become part and parcel of contemporary orthodontics. Originally conceptualised in the latter part of the twentieth century, the technology has been revolutionised to overtake the more conventional ways of providing orthodontics. The entire pathway from obtaining the clinical records to planning and finally providing the desired appliances can now be entirely processed with CAD/CAM means. This chapter aims to define CAD/CAM, describe the advantages and disadvantages of adopting CAD/CAM, whilst additionally outlining the sequence of steps in providing a CAD/CAM-based approach to practice.