Digital dentistry is no longer optional—it’s inevitable.
That was the central message from Dr. Clint D. Stevens in this in-depth webinar on in-office manufacturing, 3D printing, and chairside milling. Hosted by Trusted Dental Technologies, the session broke down what’s real, what’s hype, and how practices should think about investing in digital workflows today.
Here’s a complete breakdown of the biggest insights—and what they mean for your practice in 2026 and beyond.
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Dr. Stevens opened with a simple but powerful reality:
Dentistry is either digital—or about to be.
From diagnostics and treatment planning to design and manufacturing, every step of the modern workflow is now digitally driven .
Bringing manufacturing in-house—whether through 3D printing or milling—gives practices:
At its core, this shift isn’t about technology—it’s about control.
No matter what system you use, every digital workflow follows the same structure:
Intraoral scan, CBCT, or desktop scan
CAD software creates the restoration or appliance
CAM/slicer software prepares the file
Mill or 3D printer fabricates the final product
This standardized workflow applies across all digital dentistry applications, whether you're printing a surgical guide or milling a crown.
Dr. Stevens gave one of the most valuable frameworks of the webinar:
These applications are proven, efficient, and widely adopted:
“Integrating scanning, design, and 3D printing is absolutely best-in-class today.”
These are clinically viable, but results depend heavily on:
Despite rapid innovation, Dr. Stevens made it clear:
Current printed restorative materials lack long-term clinical evidence and performance consistency
Key limitations:
Even with limitations, Dr. Stevens strongly encourages adoption:
Key insight:
Start with low-risk applications (models, guides) and scale from there.
Printing isn’t “plug-and-play”—it requires a process:
This introduces:
As Dr. Stevens bluntly put it—printing can be a “hot, sticky mess” if not properly managed.
If printing is the gateway, milling is the workhorse.
Dr. Stevens emphasized that most dentists don’t realize:
👉 You’re already using milling—just through the lab.
Today, milling is used for:
Many clinicians still believe:
“Chairside CAD/CAM doesn’t fit as well as lab work.”
Dr. Stevens directly challenged this:
👉 The issue isn’t the technology—it’s the operator.
Fit is determined by:
“It has way less to do with what you’re using than who’s using it.”
One of the most critical takeaways:
⚠️ Important nuance:
More aesthetic zirconia = lower fracture toughness
Dr. Stevens didn’t position this as either/or.
Instead:
The biggest benefit of in-office manufacturing isn’t just speed—it’s control over your business.
Practices that adopt digital workflows can:
In fact, single-visit CAD/CAM workflows consistently outperform traditional two-visit models financially
Technology alone isn’t enough.
Dr. Stevens emphasized:
“You need to know whoever sells you that scanner has your back.”
If you’re evaluating printing and milling in 2026, here’s the practical path forward:
Digital dentistry isn’t about replacing what you already do.
It’s about doing it better, faster, and with more control.
Practices that embrace both printing and milling strategically will be the ones that:
Voxel Dental helps you evaluate, implement, and optimize the right digital workflow—without the guesswork.
👉 Talk to a digital workflow specialist today
👉 See live demos of printing and chairside milling solutions
👉 Build a system that actually works in your practice