CEREC
What is CEREC®?
Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic or CEREC® for short is a new state-of-the-art method of reconstructing tooth restorations. CEREC® uses computer-assisted design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) to offer single-day restorations for patients. This new technology has revolutionized ceramic restorations such as crowns and veneers for patients so that there is no longer a wait between preparing the restoration and finally receiving the finished product. The restorations created are metal-free and tooth colored to restore your tooth to its natural beauty, strength and function. With CEREC®’s CAD-CAM technology, these ceramic restorations can all be done in one single visit to the dentist.
The CEREC® Process
CEREC® uses CAD-CAM technology to design and mill custom restorations during one visit to the dentist. So how does this process work?
Exam and Preparation
After being diagnosed, and a plan is made to restore a tooth with a crown, the tooth is prepared and a 3-dimensional image of the tooth is created from a digital scan. This three-dimensional image will be used to create the restoration without the need to take a messy impression. Using CEREC® 3D software, your dentist will design a custom crown for the tooth.
Milling Unit
The crown design is then sent to the milling unit – a device used to create the custom restoration needed for the tooth. Based on the original color of your tooth, your dentist is able to select the correct colored ceramic block and in a few minutes, the milling device is able to create the restoration needed. Any additional characterization/coloring is then completed and the crown is finalized
Placing the Restoration
After the restoration is completed, it is ready to be tried on to ensure that you get proper fit and bite. When it is ready, the restoration is polished and bonded into place by your dentist. Therefore, no temporary restoration is needed and no return trip is necessary, saving you time.
Advantages to Using CEREC®
CEREC® has revolutionized the restorative process. It was created with the patient in mind in order to make a visit to the dentist as pain-free as possible. Some of the benefits to using CEREC® are:
- Most procedures can be done in one visit
- No need to take impressions
- No need to have a temporary restoration for in-between visits
- Ability to save as much natural tooth structure as possible
- Longer lasting restorations
- Restores teeth to natural beauty, function and strength
- Metal-free restorations