Abstract: A system for making a dental restoration, comprising a 3D digitizer for producing a 3D model digital representation of a dental restoration model, a computer in communication with the 3D digitizer and capable of creating a dental restoration milling trajectory for a selected block of given dimension and given dental restoration material, based on the 3D model, and a laser milling apparatus in communication with the computer and capable of laser milling the dental restoration from the selected block positioned therein using the milling trajectory created by the computer. The laser milling apparatus includes one or more sensor for continuously monitoring the laser milling of the selected block and to provide feedback to the computer such that the milling trajectory is continuously adjusted by the computer using the feedback from the one or more sensor.

Abstract: A model of the dental restoration is shaped in-vivo on the patient by the dentist. The model is then scanned in the dentists office using a 3D optical scanner. A 3D graphic representation of the model is obtained from the scanner using a computer. The computer is used to convert the 3D graphic representation of the model into a milling path for milling the dental restoration in a block of durable dental restoration material having known dimensions. A mill, also present in the dentists office, mills the dental restoration from the block using the milling path while the patient is waiting. The dentist can then take the milled dental restoration and apply it to the patient in the same, single visit.