Should You Invest in Chairside Milling or 3D Printing?

How do milling and printing compare in durability and cost?

Which option provides the best long-term ROI for your workflow?

In this deep dive, Dr. Rustom Moopen shares his experience with CEREC, ExoCAD, and in-house fabrication, breaking down the real benefits and limitations of both technologies.

From restoration strength to efficiency and investment costs, this episode unpacks what every dentist needs to know before taking the leap into milling, printing, and CAD/CAM workflows.

https://youtu.be/fgQnrDfXnqI

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Protrusive Dental Pearl: Achieving the same effect (of the ‘Soft Clamp’ by Kerr) with a metal clamp without requiring a potentially painful palatal injection - Dr. Jo Cape (Protruserati) suggests using a cotton bud to apply topical anesthetic to the gingiva where the clamp will be placed, leaving it for a minute, improving patient comfort!

Need to Read it? Check out the Full Episode Transcript below!

Key TakeAway:

Investing in technology like milling can lead to a measurable ROI.

Time management is crucial in dental procedures for efficiency.

Milling is a subtractive process, while printing is additive.

Mentorship is often more valuable than formal courses.

The dental industry is evolving with new technologies.

Understanding the nuances of dental procedures can enhance practice.

Early adoption of technology can set a practice apart.

Milling and printing serve different purposes in dental work.

Mock-ups can save time and improve patient satisfaction.

Milling offers more reliability than printing for dental applications.

The choice between milling and printing depends on personal preference and practice needs.

Milled composites have a proven track record of durability.

Printed splints may not hold up under heavy use.

Investing in milling technology can enhance practice efficiency.

Design software plays a crucial role in modern dentistry.

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each method is essential for success. Investing in dental software can be costly but worthwhile.

Learning design software is crucial for modern dentistry.

Milling is generally superior to printing for final restorations.

Regulatory considerations are important for in-house lab work.

Choosing the right milling equipment depends on practice needs.

Training and mentorship are essential for mastering dental technology.

Highlights of this episode:

03:29 Protrusive Dental Pearl

04:59 Meet Dr. Rustom Moopen: Journey of Learning and Mentorship

09:21 Early Adoption of CAD/CAM Technology

11:54 The Practicalities of Chairside Milling

19:01 Emax Chairside Workflow

23:10 Printing vs. Milling: Understanding the Basics

26:48 Printed Mock-Ups and Workflow Integration

29:43 Comparing Milled and Printed Composites

32:07 The Future of Splints: Milling vs. Printing

35:50 Choices After Scanning a Tooth

37:16 Milling vs. Printing: Pros and Cons

41:11 Design Software and Training

49:28 Practical Applications of 3D Printing

53:42 Investing in Digital Dentistry

55:35 Printed Restorations vs Direct Composite

56:45 Regulatory Concerns

58:31 Investing in Milling Units

01:00:53 Ideal Candidates for Milling

01:03:49 Training and Resources 

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t miss PDP137 – Q&A with a Dental Technician!

#PDPMainEpisodes #BreadandButterDentistry

This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. 

This episode meets GDC Outcomes B and C.

AGD Subject Code: 130 ELECTIVES (Product/technology training)

This episode aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of 3D printing, milling, and digital dentistry, enabling clinicians to integrate these technologies efficiently into their workflow for improved precision, cost-effectiveness, and patient outcomes.