Dental CAD/CAM: Complete Guide to Buying Used

What CAD/CAM means in dentistry

The term CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing) refers to the set of technologies that allow dental restorations to be designed (CAD) and produced (CAM) digitally, milling or printing the final piece starting from a digital file. In dentistry the CAD/CAM workflow starts from the digital impression captured with an intraoral scanner (IOS) — or from scanning a physical model — and ends with production of the restoration: crown, inlay, veneer, prosthesis, implant bar.

The adoption of CAD/CAM has radically transformed the work of both the practice and the lab: it reduces turnaround times, increases precision, eliminates variables tied to manual skill and — in the case of chairside systems — allows entire restorations to be completed in a single appointment.

Chairside vs lab: which system is right for you

The first distinction to make is where the restoration is milled:

Feature	Chairside (in-practice)	Lab
Where it's milled	In the dental practice	In the dental lab
Turnaround	1–2 hours (same-day restoration)	1–5 business days
Typical materials	Monolithic blocks (zirconia, lithium disilicate, PMMA)	Wide range (layered zirconia, metal, composite)
Used system cost	€15,000 – €45,000	€20,000 – €80,000+
Who operates it	The dentist or assistant	The dental technician
Ideal for	Single crowns, inlays, onlays, veneers	Complex prosthetics, implant bars, full-mouth rehabilitations

The main CAD/CAM systems on the used market

Dentsply Sirona CEREC (chairside)

The most widely used chairside system in the world, with over 30 years of development. Integrated Omnicam versions (scanner + milling unit) are the most sought-after on the used market. CEREC MC X and Primemill are the most recent milling units. Used units go for €18,000 to €45,000 for complete systems. CEREC software is one of the most mature and well-supported platforms.

Roland DWX (lab)

Reliable milling machines, widely used in European labs. The DWX-52D is a high-productivity 5-axis unit. Excellent value for money used: €8,000 – €22,000. Open system, compatible with all major CAM software.

Straumann CARES / Institut Straumann

Oriented toward implantology: implant-supported frameworks, bars, hybrids. Rarely found used under €30,000, but highly sought-after by labs specializing in implantology.

Ivoclar PrograMill (lab)

5-axis milling machine integrated with IPS e-max and Ivotion materials. Particularly appreciated for the quality of lithium disilicate restorations. Used units go for €25,000 to €55,000.

Amann Girrbach Ceramill (lab)

A complete ecosystem: scanner, CAD software and milling machines. Very common in Italian and German labs. Ceramill Motion 2 and Matik milling units are found used for €15,000 to €40,000.

CAD software: open or closed?

The CAD software is the brain of the system. There are two philosophies:

• Closed systems (CEREC, Straumann CARES): scanner, software and milling machine from the same manufacturer. Advantage: perfect integration. Disadvantage: vendor lock-in.
• Open systems (exocad, 3Shape Dental System, DentalCAD): software compatible with scanners and milling machines from different manufacturers. Advantage: maximum flexibility. Disadvantage: requires more technical expertise for integration.

exocad is today the most widely used open CAD software worldwide: if you buy a used milling machine compatible with exocad, you gain access to the broadest ecosystem of labs and professionals.

Materials: what the system you're buying can mill

Not every system mills every material. Before buying, check compatibility with:

• Zirconia (monolithic and layered) — requires milling machines with sufficient power and specific tools
• Lithium disilicate (IPS e-max, Vita Suprinity) — the material of choice for anterior and posterior chairside crowns
• PMMA / composite — for provisionals and temporary restorations
• Wax and resin — for producing casting patterns
• Titanium and metal — only specific milling machines (wet, 5-axis)

What to check before buying a used CAD/CAM system

• Hours of use of the axes and tools — milling machines have wear parts (spindles, bearings) with an average life of 2,000–5,000 hours.
• Condition of the milling tools — worn burs degrade quality and increase costs. Ask how many burs are included and their condition.
• Transferable software licenses — essential. exocad and 3Shape have specific transfer procedures.
• Last documented maintenance — lubricant changes, channel cleaning, axis calibration.
• Compatibility with your IOS scanner — check that your scanner's output file (STL, PLY, OBJ) is accepted by the CAM software.
• Availability of technical support — complex systems require qualified local support.

The complete digital workflow: CBCT + IOS + CAD/CAM

The real competitive advantage isn't a single tool but the integration: the CBCT volume provides the bone map for implant planning; the IOS scanner captures the clinical and occlusal situation in real time; the CAD software designs the restoration or the surgical guide; the CAM milling machine produces it. When these three systems communicate without friction — compatible formats, integrated software, a digital lab — clinical outcome quality increases and the cost per restoration falls over the medium term.