What is a key advantage of milling zirconia crowns using CAD/CAM?

• A. High strength, good esthetics, and predictable fit with reduced chairside adjustments.
• B. It requires two separate fabrication steps.
• C. It cannot be used with digital workflows.
• D. It always costs less than conventional crowns.

Answer: (A)

Milling zirconia crowns with CAD/CAM combines strong, tooth-like esthetics with a precise, predictable fit, and that together reduces the need for chairside adjustments. Zirconia is a very strong ceramic, and when it is milled from a digital design and then sintered to full strength, the margins and occlusion can be reproduced with high accuracy. The digital workflow—from capturing a scan to designing and milling the crown—minimizes impression distortions and produces consistent results, so seating adjustments are minimized. While the upfront cost of CAD/CAM systems can vary and isn’t always cheaper than conventional methods, the efficiency and reliability in fabrication and fit are the main advantages of this approach. This approach integrates smoothly with digital workflows and does not require multiple separate fabrication steps in a traditional sense.