When selecting a CAD/CAM material, strength is often the primary consideration. While this is understandable, it is not enough. In the digital chairside workflow, clinical success and added value are not determined by a single metric. What matters most are material properties that support both clinical requirements and the workflow in the dental practice.
A strong material can only reach its full potential if the clinical situation, the relevant material properties, and the design are all well-matched. For this reason, strength should always be evaluated in light of the specific case and the functional load.
Some modern material concepts focus on a balanced property profile rather than solely on maximum strength. Depending on the indication, properties such as elasticity, edge stability, processability, minimum layer thickness and the adhesive protocol may be more clinically relevant than maximum strength values.
The long-term preservation of natural tooth structure is becoming increasingly important. As a result, the focus is shifting toward materials that can be integrated into minimally invasive preparation approaches. The choice of material is thus becoming more of a strategic question: Which material supports the desired therapeutic approach?
In everyday practice, a material must not only be technically sound but also fit into the organizational workflow. Additional process steps, training requirements, bonding strategies, and team routines all influence how efficiently a material integrates into the existing digital workflow.
Material properties should not be considered in isolation. Ultimately, what matters is how a material performs under clinical conditions over many years.
The PICN Long-Term Study demonstrates how a PICN material performs in long-term clinical follow-up.
Theory matters. What matters even more is how material properties perform in everyday clinical practice. In the PROSEC Live Course, you will follow a complete chairside case from intraoral scanning and design through fabrication and adhesive placement. The course features a live patient treatment, an evidence-based introduction to PICN (VITA ENAMIC), a complete digital workflow, and direct interaction with leading experts.
✅ Live patient treatment
✅ Evidence-based introduction to PICN (VITA ENAMIC)
✅ Complete digital workflow
✅ Direct exchange with leading experts
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