At the 2026 Chicago Midwinter Meeting, vhf camfacture AG and Circle announced a software integration designed to simplify and automate the chairside production of crowns within an open digital workflow.
The collaboration connects vhf’s CAM environment with Circle’s AI-powered, cloud-based CAD application, Circle One. The companies report that this integration enables a more efficient process for designing and manufacturing crowns, while maintaining compatibility with commonly used intraoral scanners.
According to Circle One, this fulfills a long-standing promise: a smooth, intuitive, accessible chairside experience that is compatible with all commonly used dental intraoral scanners.
AI-Supported Design Within a Cloud-Based Environment
Circle One uses collaborative artificial intelligence to generate a crown proposal in under one minute once case data have been uploaded. The proposed restoration can then be reviewed immediately and modified in real time by the clinician. By automating several complex CAD steps, the platform aims to reduce manual design effort while maintaining clinical oversight.
Production is initiated through OneClick Manufacturing, a module within Circle One that launches vhf’s dentalcam software and automatically transfers the CAD data. Nesting—the positioning of the restoration within the selected material blank—takes place within dentalcam, where the milling process is subsequently started. With vhf’s directmill technology, the transition from finalized CAD design to milling initiation is reported to take less than one minute.
Integrated Workflow for Single-Visit Restorations
The combined CAD/CAM workflow supports the fabrication of chairside restorations in a single appointment. The ability to design, mill, and deliver a definitive crown during one visit may reduce the need for provisional restorations and additional patient appointments.
The workflow is compatible with vhf milling systems, including the compact four-axis E4 and Z4 units, which are designed for in-practice use and do not require external compressed air. By linking AI-assisted CAD design with integrated CAM processing and milling, the collaboration aims to support a streamlined, practice-based digital workflow focused on efficiency, precision, and clinical control.
Figures and Images
Circle One
