[Computer aided design and computer aided manufacture of template for crown lengthening].

PURPOSE: To introduce a method applied in computer aided design and computer aided manufacture (CAD-CAM) of template for crown lengthening. METHODS: Point cloud data of dental stone model of the patient in the plan of crown lengthening surgery was obtained by laser scanning. The following processes were carried out, constructing 3-D curve of the gingiva, drawing template outline on the triangle mesh model, shelling it for 3-D model of template, and transferring the data to rapid prototyping equipment for manufacture. RESULTS: 3-D model of the template was preliminarily accomplished. The resin template was manufactured with rapid prototyping equipment. The fitness between resin template and plaster model was good. CONCLUSIONS: This method, as an integrated procedure including data acquisition, 3-D computer modeling and fabrication by rapid prototyping, is feasible to implement CAD-CAM of template for crown lengthening.