Our office has been really happy with the i700 scanner so far. It was really easy to set up and use after watching only, 1-2 of the videos Cad-ray has on the website. Training with Andy was a breeze! Looking forward to taking level 2 training soon. - 1/20/2022
Great staff and support when needed! There is a bit of a learning curve like with any new tech, but I highly recommend the Medit i500 and the Cad-Ray staff is great. Special thanks to Laura and Jeff for helping out! You guys rock. Great company and ...read moreGreat staff and support when needed! There is a bit of a learning curve like with any new tech, but I highly recommend the Medit i500 and the Cad-Ray staff is great. Special thanks to Laura and Jeff for helping out! You guys rock. Great company and product!read less - 11/11/2020
Obdulia Rondon
Thanks for delivering amazing courses. Always thinking beyond dentistry. Thanks for sharing all so selflessly. - 11/13/2022
Minh Van
I was referred to CAD-Ray by Medit Instagram help service. I have purchased Medit i700 from Laura, I was please to work with her and the whole team. They offered the best customer service and the fast responses, especially Laura. I look forward for t...read moreI was referred to CAD-Ray by Medit Instagram help service. I have purchased Medit i700 from Laura, I was please to work with her and the whole team. They offered the best customer service and the fast responses, especially Laura. I look forward for the next purchase.read less - 12/07/2021
Evelyn Chan
Going with CAD-RAY and Laura is one of best investment I've made year 2020 ( I have MEDIT 500). Jumping into scanning is something that intimidated me since I am not a techie person and taking PVS impression is something second nature to me. Laur...read moreGoing with CAD-RAY and Laura is one of best investment I've made year 2020 ( I have MEDIT 500). Jumping into scanning is something that intimidated me since I am not a techie person and taking PVS impression is something second nature to me. Laura made everything a breeze, she is very accomodating and most importantly responds so fast, I never felt left out. Attending the level 1 course of Armen M. was awesome , learned the basics and it was taught in a way so easy to apply. Since my first scan, I never looked back, thinking to myself , I should have done this earlier. The crowns comes back with little to no adjustements which saves a lot of chair time. Cannot get better than this. Big shout out to CAD-RAY, Laura and Armenread less - 10/19/2021
fantastic support, I always ask random, specific to me, could be found on a training video, questions and they always quickly tell me how to fix my problem. - 6/16/2020
K. Banani
Amazing customer service. I haven’t ever worked with a company where there is an issue, you can immediately get help and assistance and so far have not had an issue that CADRAY wasn’t able to fix. They made the process buy buying and maintaining a sc...read moreAmazing customer service. I haven’t ever worked with a company where there is an issue, you can immediately get help and assistance and so far have not had an issue that CADRAY wasn’t able to fix. They made the process buy buying and maintaining a scanner seamless. Highly recommend!read less - 2/23/2024
Krupal Chhotu
Finally going digital and Cad-Ray was the place to start. Got the Medit i500 and began scanning right away. Now I am doing digital dentures, making my own surgical stents, etc. The support available is the best. "Frank" is always available! :) - 10/09/2019
I bought a i500 almost a year and a half ago. Sadly it ran into an issue with the cord after over a years use. Cad-ray was extremely quick to diagnose the issue and also send a replacement scanner. The quality and ease of scanning has been great! Als...read moreI bought a i500 almost a year and a half ago. Sadly it ran into an issue with the cord after over a years use. Cad-ray was extremely quick to diagnose the issue and also send a replacement scanner. The quality and ease of scanning has been great! Also very happy with the customer service.read less - 6/02/2022
Micah Bickel
Great support services and training from Cad-Ray, they are always very helpful and responsive. I have been using the I500 in my offices for the last two years and loving it. - 11/01/2021
Fantastic support and customer service! This is an awesome company. They aren't big box and actually know how to use, trouble shoot and ball out with the products they sell. They only will sell and endorse a good product. They are selective. Whatever...read moreFantastic support and customer service! This is an awesome company. They aren't big box and actually know how to use, trouble shoot and ball out with the products they sell. They only will sell and endorse a good product. They are selective. Whatever they sell they back. And they have your back too. Their support, service and training is industry leading. Also Laura from CadRay is a beast. She's wizardread less - 4/23/2022
Asi Cohen
Armen Mirzayan's knowledge base sets CAD-RAY.COM apart from all other digital dental-equipment dealers. Not content with linking manufacturer support content, Armen's team provide instant feedback to any equipment queries, in-depth video tutorials, a...read moreArmen Mirzayan's knowledge base sets CAD-RAY.COM apart from all other digital dental-equipment dealers. Not content with linking manufacturer support content, Armen's team provide instant feedback to any equipment queries, in-depth video tutorials, and regular product testing, streamlining, and pushing the boundaries of their products - be it software, hardware, or connectivity between various brands. I highly recommend this team if you want to fully utilise your equipment and have the backup needed going forward!read less - 11/05/2019
I had 3 Cerec machines and switched to medit. It’s awesome and do not regret the switch one bit. This is the place to buy it bc Armen and Frank are a wealth of knowledge and Frank is awesome with support. He’s always there whenever I need him! - 10/10/2019
Very pleased with the EXCELLENT support we have received from Frank DeLuca! Loving our new Medit so far, definitely more user friendly than our previous one. - 6/02/2022
Engy Hassan
Amazing customer service! Excellent on time feedback. Thank you Kaila - 12/08/2021
W Timothy Brooks
Excellent fast color scanner. A great improvement over my old proprietary scanner. Easy to learn software and great free technical support. - 6/18/2020
I purchased my Medit scanner after the ADA meeting in 2018. I did it primarily on the personal recommendation of Armen Mirzayan, the owner of Cad-Ray. I have known Armen for over 15 years (we both were CEREC trainers) and he has always been unbeli...read moreI purchased my Medit scanner after the ADA meeting in 2018. I did it primarily on the personal recommendation of Armen Mirzayan, the owner of Cad-Ray. I have known Armen for over 15 years (we both were CEREC trainers) and he has always been unbelievably knowledgeable about dental technology and was always moving on the cutting edge.
When you see Armen's daily FB posts, it’s obvious that he is constantly pushing the envelope and exploring the limits of the Medit and the processes we use to idealize our push towards completely digital dentistry. Medit owners are fortunate to have Armen finding glitches and pushing for improvements in our scanner.
As far as after sale service, I can’t find a flaw with Cad-Ray. You won’t find a more supportive and dentist-centered company. Armen and Frank do everything to make purchasers happy and back up their sales.
I’ve heard of horror stories when people shopped elsewhere and only positive comments about Cad-Ray.
In summary, buy your Medit and other high tech equipment from Cad-Ray, you will be totally satisfied.
.read less - 10/08/2019
Excellent support and price on our medit IOS! Bought a second one a year later. Can always count on Armen and Frank for help when we need it. - 6/16/2020
Christopher Godla
I have had my Medit i700 scanner for about 2 months now and have completed 67 restorative cases with it. Scans have generally been pretty quick, and the accuracy seems to be superior to the iTero I used. My first scanner ended up dying after a few ...read moreI have had my Medit i700 scanner for about 2 months now and have completed 67 restorative cases with it. Scans have generally been pretty quick, and the accuracy seems to be superior to the iTero I used. My first scanner ended up dying after a few weeks. Medit and cad-ray were great- they sent a new scanner within the week and haven't had any problems since. Customer service has been spot on. Overall I have been very satisfied.read less - 6/30/2021
A newcomer to scanning, I have been impressed with the ease of the process. The commitment shown by each CAD-Ray team member to successful customer training and their skill levelhave been extraordinary. Thank you Kaila, Frank and Andy!! - 5/15/2022
Michael Gagaoudakis
Awesome company. The video collection CAD-Ray has put together for their equipment is unparalleled. There is literally no other company that has a library of learning tools like Armen and his team have put together. I highly recommend this company if...read moreAwesome company. The video collection CAD-Ray has put together for their equipment is unparalleled. There is literally no other company that has a library of learning tools like Armen and his team have put together. I highly recommend this company if you are considering making a digital equipment investment. 5 stars!read less - 6/16/2020
Thomas Lim
5 stars for a great product and great service. After much research I knew I was set on the Medit 500. I considered some of my local equipment reps, as well as cad-ray. Cad-ray won out due to their efficiency, speed of service, and knowledge. The...read more5 stars for a great product and great service. After much research I knew I was set on the Medit 500. I considered some of my local equipment reps, as well as cad-ray. Cad-ray won out due to their efficiency, speed of service, and knowledge. Their online presence makes it easy to get help via messaging, social media, or phone.
The scanner itself works great, but make sure to contact them to get the minimum specs required for a laptop -- it will make a difference in how the scanner performs.
To make the scanner mobile, I purchased this cart from Staples: https://www.staples.com/Oklahoma-Sound-Premium-Audio-Visual-Presentation-Cart-40-1-2-H-x-18-W-x-30-D-Black-Ivory-Wood/product_932437.
Lastly, I purchased "3M Dual Lock Fastener" to keep the power module attached to the wand from falling off the cart. I carry the scanner between two offices, so I wanted something sturdy, but removable. (see in photos). The hockey puck shaped holder (comes with the scanner) works great for holding the wand itself.read less - 10/10/2019
Been using my i700 for a month now and it's been great. The tutorials that Cad-ray provides have been very helpful. This scanner with a fast computer turns out great results. - 11/01/2021
I'm a repeat customer because Cad-Ray's customer service is fast, efficient, and no nonsense. The classes offered for training for particularly for the Medit is awesome and it comes included which is phenomenal. All the classes that I've gotten to at...read moreI'm a repeat customer because Cad-Ray's customer service is fast, efficient, and no nonsense. The classes offered for training for particularly for the Medit is awesome and it comes included which is phenomenal. All the classes that I've gotten to attend so far has been well organized and I left learning very practical things. Remote support team solves my problem right then and there. Recently I had an issue, and instead of me talking to a sales rep who doesn't know what to do, Kaila remoted in and got it fixed just like that. Thank you and great job guys!read less - 4/19/2022
Suresh Goel
CAD-Ray is a great resource for all things digital. Knowledgeable team but also able to anticipate your needs and because they’ve done it so many times they seem to know what you need before you do! Definitely the first place to look for digital ha...read moreCAD-Ray is a great resource for all things digital. Knowledgeable team but also able to anticipate your needs and because they’ve done it so many times they seem to know what you need before you do! Definitely the first place to look for digital hardware and integration!read less - 6/16/2020
Daniel Kim
CAD-Ray's online resources and customer support has made my Medit scanner implementation possible without the need for any hands on training. They are full of resources and have expert knowledge. - 7/01/2021
Mike Davis
I have been very happy with the Medit I purchased from Cad Ray. Everyone has been very helpful and quick to respond to my questions. They have an awesome video library for the medit, I am new to scanning and have really enjoyed the tutorial videos. - 6/16/2020
Anthony Vu
If you are looking to buy a Medit, you shouldn't look anywhere else to buy it. My Medit i700 was having issues on a Friday and I was able to get Heather from Cad-Ray to troubleshoot the issue. She remoted into my computer to try and troubleshoot the ...read moreIf you are looking to buy a Medit, you shouldn't look anywhere else to buy it. My Medit i700 was having issues on a Friday and I was able to get Heather from Cad-Ray to troubleshoot the issue. She remoted into my computer to try and troubleshoot the issue and helped with getting Medit on board as well. Once it was confirmed it was a hardware issue, I got sent a BRAND NEW Medit i700 OVERNIGHT.Can you believe that? Service and warranty that Cad-Ray offers is really TOP NOTCH.Highly Recommend Cad-Ray for all things MEDIT. Thank you Heather from Cad-Ray for all your help!!!read less - 2/02/2022
Chirag Vaid
I ordered my Medit scanner from them in Feb 2020, so far no issues with support or the product. They are a great company with great support. Disclosure: they did promise me a scanner tip for this review, but in all honestly I was meaning to give it t...read moreI ordered my Medit scanner from them in Feb 2020, so far no issues with support or the product. They are a great company with great support. Disclosure: they did promise me a scanner tip for this review, but in all honestly I was meaning to give it to them anyway.... if you are looking to buy, this is a great way to go about it.read less - 7/19/2020
Thomas Lim
5 stars for a great product and great service. After much research I knew I was set on the Medit 500. I considered some of my local equipment reps, as well as cad-ray. Cad-ray won out due to their efficiency, speed of service, and knowledge. Their on...read more5 stars for a great product and great service. After much research I knew I was set on the Medit 500. I considered some of my local equipment reps, as well as cad-ray. Cad-ray won out due to their efficiency, speed of service, and knowledge. Their online presence makes it easy to get help via messaging, social media, or phone. The fact that one of the employees of Medit (an engineer?) posts on the cad-Ray Facebook group speaks volumes of the vendor-mfg relations.
The scanner itself works great, but make sure to contact them to get the minimum specs required for a laptop — it will make a difference in how the scanner performs. I had some slow scans at first but upgraded from 8gb to 32gb ram and also got some coaching from customer service (Frank) to get me up to speed.
To make the scanner mobile, I purchased this cart from Staples: https://www.staples.com/Oklahoma-Sound-Premium-Audio-Visual-Presentation-Cart-40-1-2-H-x-18-W-x-30-D-Black-Ivory-Wood/product_932437.
Lastly, I purchased “3M Dual Lock Fastener” to keep the power module attached to the wand from falling off the cart. I carry the scanner between two offices, so I wanted something sturdy, but removable. (see in photos). The hockey puck shaped holder (comes with the scanner) is heavy and sticks to the countertop without needing any adhesive.read less - 10/12/2019
Frank helped me out when 3dbiocad could not help me with my trios issue. Thank you cad-ray. - 9/18/2024
Chase Benson
New technology can be intimidating, but this i700 is user friendly and is everything you could ask for in regards to a great scanner. Cad-ray also made the transition easy and smooth. Customer support here is unreal. Telling all my dental buddies abo...read moreNew technology can be intimidating, but this i700 is user friendly and is everything you could ask for in regards to a great scanner. Cad-ray also made the transition easy and smooth. Customer support here is unreal. Telling all my dental buddies about these guys, and plan to make more purchases in the future.read less - 4/18/2022
These guys are great. Always quick to answers questions and trouble shoot. Only a text away...they are spot on. Would purchase from them again in a heart beat......and will soon! We are getting close to adding a second Medit i500 to the office. Every...read moreThese guys are great. Always quick to answers questions and trouble shoot. Only a text away...they are spot on. Would purchase from them again in a heart beat......and will soon! We are getting close to adding a second Medit i500 to the office. Everyone whats to use the one we have!read less - 6/19/2020
Ray Voller
There’s nothing like a company with top notch support like Cadray! Frank DeLuca is one of THE most helpful, non- condescending people I’ve ever dealt with! He ALWAYS strives to make us the BEST we can be and almost immediately helps us with any quest...read moreThere’s nothing like a company with top notch support like Cadray! Frank DeLuca is one of THE most helpful, non- condescending people I’ve ever dealt with! He ALWAYS strives to make us the BEST we can be and almost immediately helps us with any questions or problems ( which are minimal with the i700!) HIGHLY recommend this company and their scanner!!read less - 10/06/2022
Micah Bickel
Great products, training and support - 11/01/2021
Melissa Poynter
Very pleased with Heather :) She has been able to solve any and all issues I may be having, and does so within the same day if not right away! - 6/16/2022
Susan Latimer
Cad Ray has always provided me with the best customer support for my Medit scanner. Today, I worked with Destiny. She is quick to respond and identify problems and also great at explaining how to fix them! I highly recommend this company! - 5/01/2025
Chase Funk
This has been awesome, to be honest I have know idea how to use it but our team members have picked it up so easy!! - 6/16/2020
Alex Compton
I had been looking into scanners for a while and I could not deny the good reviews of CAD-Ray, so I gave them a call. I was pleasantly (not) surprised by the excellent service I received. Laura Geney set up a call quickly and very simply and plainly ...read moreI had been looking into scanners for a while and I could not deny the good reviews of CAD-Ray, so I gave them a call. I was pleasantly (not) surprised by the excellent service I received. Laura Geney set up a call quickly and very simply and plainly discussed with me my options. She gave me all the information I needed as well as told me about all the available specials I would be able to take advantage of! I ordered my Medit i700 and very soon after received training for myself and dental staff. We have been very happy with the service from CAD-Ray and look forward to maintaining a long lasting relationship with them. Would strongly recommend Laura and CAD-Ray!read less - 4/07/2022
Lance Timmerman
Implant Planning Services Review I Am VERY experienced with "another system" but thought I would give CAD-Ray a try. At at LEAST 1/3 the fee, why not?
VERY happy. Fit GREAT, surgery was uneventful (the best kind) and I am a believer! This is a great company and great PEOPLE to...read moreI Am VERY experienced with "another system" but thought I would give CAD-Ray a try. At at LEAST 1/3 the fee, why not?
VERY happy. Fit GREAT, surgery was uneventful (the best kind) and I am a believer! This is a great company and great PEOPLE too! 5 stars aren't enough. Just like the Burj Al Arab, this is 7 star!read less - 3/03/2015
Dr. Steven E. Hollister
Had a training session for use of my Medit scanner this afternoon, and Heather G. was simply the best.....knowledgeable, patient and a great trainer. She had a wealth of knowledge regarding my scanner and she was so very patient with my computer glit...read moreHad a training session for use of my Medit scanner this afternoon, and Heather G. was simply the best.....knowledgeable, patient and a great trainer. She had a wealth of knowledge regarding my scanner and she was so very patient with my computer glitches! CAD-Ray is number one in my book! Thanks Heather, your time was much appreciated! Dr. Steve Hollisterread less - 5/14/2025
Al Villalobos
Great scanner at a good price...Excellent customer service . I never want to take a conventional impression again! Best upgrade to my office in years. - 11/16/2021
Kurt Adamson
I was on the fence for a few years about getting into intra-oral scanning. I finally did it in the fall of 2019 and haven't looked back. I was hesitant mostly because I didn't want to spend a lot on $$$ on something that I don't end up implementing. ...read moreI was on the fence for a few years about getting into intra-oral scanning. I finally did it in the fall of 2019 and haven't looked back. I was hesitant mostly because I didn't want to spend a lot on $$$ on something that I don't end up implementing. I found that I love scanning, I feel like it has improved my quality of preps and my OCD of being able to verify accuracy. I recommend Cad-ray because they want you to succeed. They are always available. They have been through this process many times, they know what does and doesn't work. My experience is with the Medit i500 IOS.read less - 6/19/2020
Richard Wu
Great customer service! Had an issue with our dongle and Cad-Ray got it squared away and a new dongle sent right away. - 1/25/2023
Thomas Lim
Just updating my post to show my cart setup. Hope it can help for someone :) - 10/12/2019
I have been a customer of CAD-Ray for about a year now. We have purchased multiple items from Laura, including exocad software, a milling machine, and the Imetric4d. I can’t express enough how happy we are that we made those purchases through them. T...read moreI have been a customer of CAD-Ray for about a year now. We have purchased multiple items from Laura, including exocad software, a milling machine, and the Imetric4d. I can’t express enough how happy we are that we made those purchases through them. The customer service and the fast responses, (especially Laura) has been top notch! At the beginning, just like anything else in dentistry, we needed support and reassurance of the items acquired and all I have to say is a big thank you for an amazing customer service and support!!!! And did I mention that they offer really good financial options? Again, thank you! Looking forward for the next purchase. - The Inspired Dental team in Las Vegas:)read less - 8/31/2021
Allen Mortimer
So glad we used Cad-Ray. They absolutely helped set everything up and even helped us tremendously when we needed a replacement. We are using the i700 and are thrilled with it! - 11/03/2022
Eric Bailey
Couldn't be happier with the support I've gotten from these guys. Trouble-shooting a problem real time so you can call a patient and get them right back in with a solution is extremely hard customer service to match. Thanks a ton and no question wher...read moreCouldn't be happier with the support I've gotten from these guys. Trouble-shooting a problem real time so you can call a patient and get them right back in with a solution is extremely hard customer service to match. Thanks a ton and no question where I'll be going for any more purchases!read less - 10/06/2021
Everyone at CAD Ray has been amazing. Glad I chose them for my Medit and Sprint Ray purchase. Our training with Kaila was awesome. Thank you - 1/04/2023
Kip Covington
Customer support! I've had handfuls of scanners over the years and support has always been the biggest variable. We recently had a scanner bought through and implant company and received limited to no support. Through recommendations from several fri...read moreCustomer support! I've had handfuls of scanners over the years and support has always been the biggest variable. We recently had a scanner bought through and implant company and received limited to no support. Through recommendations from several friends, I purchased a second scanner through cad-ray and had them transfer over our support for the first. I wish I would have done this years ago. Destaney, has been incredible helping us troubleshoot a hardware issue that came up. It was on 3-shapes side but not only did she run it up the ladder there and get us back up and running quickly, but she promptly answered all questions and continuously checked in to make sure things were moving along. I won't purchase from anyone else going forward.read less - 8/14/2024
In this video we demonstrate a simple premolar case that is prepared and imaged with the Medit i500, designed in the cad software named exocad and then milled with the imes icor coritec one machine. Pay attention to the order and sequence of events and how we leverage anesthesia time with scanning time.
We have a large library of instructional videos on our site that can be found on our support page that can help you learn everything there is to know about the Medit i500
We are very pleased with millbox and the imes icore coritec one for a chairside milling solution. We’ve been testing it for a long time and its CAM (millbox) is very intuitive and the results are always predictable. It can mill titanium abutments, emax, and zirconia blocks.
The following videos illustrate how you can image a scanbody intra-orally and then design it in cad software. Here we used exocad to identify the biomax RP implant and designed both the custom titanium abutment and the suprastructure, both of which were milled with the CORiTEC ONE
There are so many implant and component libraries in cad/cam dentistry which can lead to a lot of confusion. What we highly recommend is that you visually compare the part numbers that you will be using with the part numbers displayed on the millbox software. One letter or number difference and the mistakes will have a profound impact on the bottom line of a dental practice
In this case presentation, we feature a crown that needs to be replaced due to open margins and recurrent decay.
With the Medit i500, after the patient is anesthetized and the area is isolated, the pre-existing crown is imaged in the pre-op catalog box. The area to be prepared is cropped out in anticipation of the imaging the modified preparation.
Once the crown is removed, expasyl is packed into the sulcus with a Number 2 cord. With the pre-op bitewings X-ray it was readily apparent that the tissue should be positively displaced in order to capture the margins. It took two layers of cord to achieve hemostasis for imaging with the Medit i500.
While placing the margin in the native imaging software, it was noted that some tissue was obscuring the margin on the lingual side. The area was isolated both clinically and in the software. It was cropped out and filled in with ‘good data’ after proper protection of the adjacent teeth and margins so that we did not obscure their geometry.
Once the margins are identified and the case is processed it is automatically imported into exocad for design and then sent to the Imes Icore CORiTEC Once for manufacturing. The emax restoration was tried in and then delivered after crystalization.
In this article, we demonstrate how to manage a crown replacement on a second upper premolar with the Medit i500, exocad, and the imes icore CORiTEC ONE milling machine. The pre-existing crown was over 2 decades old and the recession revealed a supra-gingival margin. Furthermore, there was no room to improve the anatomy or its outline form as it was in occlusion with the opposing dentition.
A powerful design technique is the copy of the pre-existing crown. Images of the pre-op are taken while the patient is numb and its contours are copied onto the final design of the restoration. This process usually takes a minute or so, after which we milled a size 12 emax block restoration.
One of the most dreaded procedures in dentistry is to cut off a bonded lithium disilicate material. With zirconia, since the bond strength is weak, just “rattling” the crown helps it pop off. You could also debond the restoration with a laser pretty quickly. With emax, you must use copious amounts of water so you don’t fry the pulp. You must also refrain from splitting the crown with a crown remover because you can damage the remaining tooth structure catastrophically.
In this sequence of photos, you will see how we recommend the removal of the bonded restoration. You must first create a trough across the occlusal surface of the crown. Ideally, use a 1.6 mm disposable bur to reach the interface between tooth structure and restorative material. As soon as you reach this junction, take a flat ended diamond bur and start working that same location and remove all the ceramic on the occlusal surface. Staying right at the junction of the material and tooth is the critical part of the process.
After you have removed the occlusal surface, you can take any bur and work the junction one the axial wall. By this time enough work has been done where the walls of the restoration start to break and peel off on their own.
All milling machines have guidelines for proper cleaning and maintanance. The imes icore CORITEC ONE’s spray channels must be kept clean, otherwise they will spray off the target block materials. Essentially you will dry mill ceramic which will damage the material and break the drills very quickly.
You can see how little particles of ceramic and titanium dust can clog the lines.
Here we just used an ortho plier and orthowires to unclog the lines. It’s easiest to have the water spraying so you can identify the channels and see the immediate results.
A new feature coming to Medit i500 is the automatic detection of scanbodies while you are imaging. In this clinical case, two implants are placed in the lower left quadrant in a fully guided fashion. Spacing limitations and proximity to vital anatomy did not allow for proper parallelism. This can create all kinds of headaches with analog dentistry where the trays can inadvertently lock in the mouth of distort upon poor up.
With the digital approach, you can scan the gingiva, the arch with easy access to adjacent contacts, and then the scanbodies themselves. What is great is that you do not disturb the primary stability you just achieved by placing physical forces on freshly placed implants.
Once the images are captured and the scanbodies are identified, we launch exocad and the data is not only automatically imported into the Computer Aided Design Software, it also plots the fixtures in the correct position and identifies their location and timing so you can proceed with the design of the custom abutment and / or tibase restoration.
This 4 unit case was imaged in Medit i500 and designed in exocad. The final restoration was taken to CEREC inlab cam. When the construction file is imported into cam, it contains data such as the margin line which is important for the milling machine to know for its tool path calculations.
In this particular situation, the construction file dictated the position of the restoration in the block which would have not allowed for proper milling. Instead of loading the construction file, we imported the stl design, redrew the margins really quickly and were able to mill the two separate (4 unit) case out of a single emax block.
A very common source of frustration for most dentists or those who are new to designing implant crowns is the emergence profile of the abutment or crown. Most of the time, the shape of the tissue dictates the digital design and this article showcases how we used the medit i500 for the intra-oral scan of the patient and then used exocad to design the restorations. Our advanced users can appreciate how we bring the arch model in twice- once as the maxillary model and once as the gingiva model. We then digital sculpt the tissue to create the proper profile yet we still have the original model to reflect back to asses the changes.
Few things in dentistry that can be as frustrating as seating a second molar restoration, whether you are doing same day dentistry or having a lab made prosthesis delivered. Here is a protocol we recommend that you follow to dramatically reduce surprises and post op adjustments. In this particular clinical case a zirconia crown debonded and we elected to fabricate an in-office emax restoration. The sequence is as follows:
While the patient is anesthetized and you are waiting for the onset of anesthesia, capture the opposing impression and the arch models. Trim away the prep digitally and then proceed to the buccal bite capture
Do NOT capture the bite until you verify clearance. In the sequences of videos that follow, watch how we use the Medit i500 to capture digital pictures of the clearance
Once we verify clearance, we image the bite. You have the option at this point to see how well your occlusal stamps match the digital stamps if you want to. A large deviation may mean the jaw settled or the patient moved during the bite capture. Note that unlike conventional dentistry, you capture the bite here BEFORE the prep is finalized
Once you achieve isolation you can finalize the prep and retract the tissue and capture the prep. We elected to capture the preparation in HD mode
The case is then immediately imported into the CAD software for design and fabrication
With the Meditlink software you can design a case and then export the designs and take them to any milling machine of your choice. In this demonstration, we use the CORiTEC ONE to mill out the metal abutment in 45 minutes. This procedure is not intended to be a single appointment visit so timing is not critical and you don’t place undue wear and tear on the milling machine.
The crowns were milled with two different milling machines. A Celtra Duo block was used and milled with the CEREC MCXL and retrofitted to the abutment to verify the fit and accuracy. The same crown stl was milled out of Vita material in the imes icore machine. The whole point of the demonstration is that you can take scans from any intra-oral scan, take it to CAD software (in this case exocad) and then export the case and take it to any printer or milling machine of your choice. You must make sure critical information is accurately transferred from your CAD software to your CAM software, which is generally the construction / project file that accompanies the STL files of the prosthetic components
The same crown was milled out of Vita’s Suprinity material in 20 minutes with the imes-icore CORiTEC ONE. Take note of the internal adaptation of the metal abutment and the restoration and how when it is flipped upside down, the restoration does not fall out easily!
When we 3D scan the surface of an object, we plot geometric figures (usually triangles) on the surface of that object which is usually round or has some other geometric shape. A satellite beam hitting the surface of the earth is a good way to visualize the scanning process as the photo illustrates.
As you span across long distances, a meshwork of triangles are plotted together to accurately represent the topography of the object. You can start “veering off track” and forming models that are inaccurate representations of that object if you don’t properly form this framework. There are many variables that can introduce these errors including simple matters like speed of scanning.
Now, with this dental artificial intelligence program, the software can digitally plot and drop known shapes on top of attachments or devices we place in the mouth. Color mapping can let us know if we are staying accurate, on path, or introducing errors and deviations!
Now imagine if you have 6 objects sticking out of a flat plane that this AI program readily recognizes. Identifying these landmarks is the first step, but the bigger significance is that we can scan from object 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > 6, and when we continuously to image backwards from object 6 to object 1, and our color coding remains the same, we are guaranteed scan accuracy.
People go to 2 extra years of schooling to do accurate work in complex cases, most of which will be replaced with software algorithms like this. This is a serious and significant advancement in dentistry, particularly in implant dentistry. Here’s a video that detail how we use it to restore dental implants.
In the following three videos we walk you through the steps of how the digital “scanbody drop” works to identify the location of an implant fixture. In the demonstration videos, we highlight this upcoming feature and how you an integrate the CAD software for implant designs and restorations. In the final video, we demonstrate how you can take the construction files to the milling machine of your choice and mill out the abutment and/or suprastructure.
In this case demonstration, we show how you can image in the Medit i500 and follow the most logical steps and sequences to produce a restoration. You capture the preparation, the opposing and bite and once the models are rendered, you can launch the CAD software of your choice. The lower right molar was endontically retreated and the porcelain fused to ceramic crown needed to be replaced as it was overcontoured and impinging on the soft tissue. After the crown was removed, the preparation was refined and impressions were taken. The remaining cotton / cavit / gutta percha was removed right before placement, a NX3 by Kerr was used, which is both build up material and a resin cement. The space between the intaglio of the crown and the pulp chamber was retrofilled at seating time and a final x-ray was taken to make sure there was no excess resin left behind.
Here, we utilize exocad. Once we click on the CAD software button, the software is launched and the models are imported automatically.
Once the case is designed, meditlink walks you through the next step which is to nest the restoration and to mill it with whatever milling machine you choose to utilize. Here, we used the CEREC MCXL, the Z4 from VHF, and the imes icore CORiTEC one.
When you start a case in exocad or in Meditlink, you have to define a project or define the job by entering a prescription. A dentalproject file is created that has all the pertinent data, like the type of restoration, the shade, the material, parameter settings,etc..
After the case is designed a dental cad project file is formed, along with the stl file of the restoration, accompanied by the construction information. Once the construction file is formed, the case can be import it into CAM software like cerec inlab. It carries a lot of information like the margin line.
Some CAM software can process simple redirections without the need for any other pertinent information from the construction file, while others require it. Some are so specific that a simple typo or wrong character will lead to mis-production.
In the case of cerec inlab, it’s best to have the construction file accompany the stl of the restorations, although there are numerous work-arounds in case you don’t. Once processed, the restoration is taken to the Mcxl milling machine.
Why are we so focused on teaching this concept ? Because it is critical for milling metal abutment where you have to keep track of an object that is cylindrical and symmetric in shape. The code in these files will dictate the indexing of the connections and how these abutments are milled.
This is the occlusal appliance that was milled and delivered from this patient’s scan approximately 7 days ago. The appliance did not need a single adjustment neither on the occlusal surface, nor in the intaglio.
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