CEREC
What is CEREC? CEREC is an acronym…
- Chairside: The technology is in the dental operatory and used while you are in the chair
- Economical: The procedure is economical for both dentist and patient
- Restorations: The procedure restores your tooth to its natural beauty, function, and strength
- Esthetic: The restorations are metal-free and tooth-colored
- Ceramic: High-strength ceramics are used that are close in composition to your natural tooth structure.
CEREC is an advanced dental restorative system that allows your dentist to restore decayed teeth, place crowns, remove defective amalgam(silver) fillings, or place cosmetic veneers in just one appointment. This allows you to have the highest quality and most lifelike dental restorations in just one visit to the dentist…in, out, and on with your busy life.
The CEREC Procedure
Let’s face it, very few of us have perfect teeth, free of decay and fillings. You can probably see a filling or two in your own mouth, which do just that — “fill” a cavity, or hole, in your tooth left from the excavation of decayed tooth structure. In many cases, those fillings are made of metal material and clook unesthetic, weaken the tooth, or get additional decay under or around it. In fact, 1.2 billion of these metal fillings will need to be replaced in the next 10 years. CEREC is a method used by thousands of dentists worldwide since 1987 not only to replace these fillings, but also to restore any tooth that is decayed, weakened, broken, to its natural strength and beauty. Better yet, it’s done with all-ceramic materials that are tooth-colored in a single appointment!
Exam and Preparation for CEREC
First, Dr. Hastings examines the tooth and determines the appropriate treatment. It could be a simple filling, or a full crown, depending on how much healthy tooth structure is remaining and the clinical judgment of Dr. Hastings. Next, he administers an anesthetic and prepares your tooth for the restoration, removing decayed and weakened tooth tissue. This preparation is just like he would do for many other restorative techniques.
Optical Impression
Then, Dr. Hastings takes a Digital scan of the prepared tooth. Instead of taking a traditional impression, Dr. Hastings take a digital picture of your tooth with a hand-held wand. This whole scan process takes only a few minutes and eliminates the need for messy impressions.
No Temporaries
Next, the CEREC machine helps Dr. Hastings create the restoration for your tooth. The CEREC 3D software takes the digital picture and converts it into a 3-dimensional virtual model on the computer screen. Dr. Hastings uses his 25+ years of experience to design your restoration using the CEREC 3D computer program. Within a few minutes, the restoration design data is sent to a separate milling machine in the office. A ceramic block that matches your tooth shade is placed in the milling machine. About 10 – 20 minutes later, the new tooth is finished milling and Dr. Hastings tries the restoration in your mouth to ensure proper fit and bite. Then your all-ceramic, tooth-colored restoration is finished and ready to bond in place. The restoration is then polished or glazed and bonded to the prepared tooth. Your tooth is restored with no “temporary” or additional appointment. All of this is done in a single appointment! Ask us about CEREC today.