What restorations do I send to the lab after digital scanning?

Chairside CAD/CAM has the ability to do single- and multiple-unit inlays, onlays, crowns, and veneers in the entire mouth. While the systems have the ability to do bridges, the ceramic and composite blocks are not strong enough to withstand the milling of a permanent bridge. A provisional bridge, however, can be fabricated. Each practice is different and the number of restorations you do and the location will vary based on your comfort level. The time you spend designing multiple units and establishing ideal esthetics may lead you to send some cases (especially anterior cases) to the laboratory. Material choice is a good reason to send a case to the lab. There are times when gold or PFM metal margins are necessary or when a zirconia coping or framework is desired.