A printed surgical guide (restorative planning) is a custom 3D-printed template that helps a clinician place dental implants in positions planned around the final tooth restoration. It is designed from digital records such as scans and imaging, then printed to fit a patient’s teeth, gums, or bone. It is commonly used in implant dentistry to transfer a digital plan to the mouth during surgery. The main goal is to align the surgical steps with the intended prosthetic outcome (the crown, bridge, or denture).

A printed model is a physical replica of teeth and oral structures made from a digital scan using a 3D printer. printed model devices are commonly used in dentistry to plan treatment, communicate expected changes, and fabricate appliances. The “model” can represent a full arch (upper or lower jaw), a quadrant, or a specific area such as an implant site. Depending on the workflow, a printed model may be used chairside, in a dental laboratory, or in a teaching setting.

A 3D printed provisional is a temporary dental restoration made using a 3D printer and a printable dental resin. It is designed to protect a tooth or implant site while a long-term restoration is being planned or fabricated. A 3D printed provisional is commonly used for temporary crowns, bridges, veneers, inlays/onlays, or provisional implant restorations. It is also used to test appearance, bite, and comfort before the final restoration is delivered.

virtual articulation is a digital method for simulating how the upper and lower teeth meet and move against each other. It uses scans and software to mimic what a mechanical dental articulator does with stone models. It is commonly used in digital dentistry for planning crowns, bridges, dentures, implants, and orthodontic setups. It helps clinicians preview bite contacts and jaw movements before a restoration or appliance is made or adjusted.

intraoral scanning is a digital way to capture the shape of teeth and gums using a handheld camera. It creates a 3D model that can be viewed immediately on a screen. It is commonly used to plan and make crowns, bridges, veneers, orthodontic aligners, and other dental appliances. It can also be used to record baseline tooth positions for monitoring changes over time.

digital workflow is a way of planning and delivering dental care using digital tools instead of (or alongside) traditional “analog” steps. It commonly involves digital scanning, computer-aided design (CAD), and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) such as milling or 3D printing. In plain terms, it is the “digital chain” that moves information from your mouth to a designed restoration or appliance. It is widely used for crowns, veneers, implants, orthodontic aligners, night guards, and bite appliances.

CEREC is a chairside CAD/CAM system used to design and make dental restorations in a dental office. It commonly supports same-day crowns, inlays, onlays, and some veneers. CEREC typically uses a digital scan instead of a traditional impression and a milling unit to shape the restoration from a solid block. It is most often used in restorative dentistry to rebuild teeth affected by decay, fractures, or failing restorations.

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A CAD/CAM crown is a tooth-shaped cap made using digital design and computer-guided manufacturing. It is used to cover and restore a damaged or weakened tooth so it can function and look more natural. CAD/CAM refers to *computer-aided design* and *computer-aided manufacturing*. It is commonly used in general dentistry, restorative dentistry, and implant dentistry.

A CAD/CAM onlay is a custom dental restoration made using computer design and computer-aided manufacturing. It covers and rebuilds part of a tooth, usually one or more cusps (the pointed chewing surfaces). It is commonly used on back teeth (premolars and molars) after decay removal or fracture repair. Many CAD/CAM onlay restorations are made from ceramic or resin-based blocks and are bonded to the tooth.