Abstract
Diffusion of innovations in dentistry has rarely been studied. This study tracked the usage of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing or machining (CAD/CAM) in general public's search query patterns and academic journal articles to find the terminology's diffusion in society and dentistry. Data were retrieved from Google Trends and Web of Science database, and the authors reorganised the search results and examined structural pattern of them. Results show that CAD/CAM technology is influenced by and interacting with relevant technologies and social arrangements. The emergence of CAD/CAM in dentistry was delayed than that of general public's perception, but the terminology established itself as a fundamental condition and simultaneously an outcome of dental materials development, medical/dental science, clinical techniques, and social trends.