premilled

Premilled refers to a product or material that has undergone a milling process prior to its intended use or final fabrication. This term is commonly encountered in the fields of manufacturing, dentistry, and materials science. In manufacturing, premilled components might be stock items that have been machined to a specific shape or size, reducing the need for extensive custom machining later. For example, a premilled metal block could be the starting point for creating a complex part.

In dentistry, premilled refers to the process of milling dental prosthetics, such as crowns, bridges, or implant abutments, from pre-made blocks of material like zirconia, ceramic, or wax. These blocks are precisely shaped by computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems. The premilled restoration then undergoes further finishing, glazing, and characterization by a dental technician before being cemented or bonded into a patient's mouth. This approach allows for greater efficiency and consistency in dental lab workflows.

The benefit of premilling often lies in streamlining production, improving accuracy through automated processes, and potentially reducing costs by standardizing the initial stages of manufacturing. It essentially pre-fabricates a significant portion of the final product, leaving less intensive work for the final assembly or finishing stages. The quality of the premilled material and the precision of the milling equipment are crucial factors in the success of the final product.