What is CEREC?
CEREC is an acronym…
- Chair-side: The technology is in the office and used while you are in the chair
- Economical: The procedure saves time and resources by being more efficient than traditional methods
- 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 used for veneers, crown placement, and treating tooth decay. The system’s efficiency allows these complex procedures to be done in a single appointment. CEREC has been used by dentists since 1987 to restore teeth in numerous different ways and is a safe and easy solution to dental treatment.
CEREC Procedures
If Dr. Lowenguth has deemed that you need treatment or a procedure done with CEREC, he will evaluate the tooth in question and prepare it for treatment. This could involve assessing how much of the tooth is still healthy or deciding on the best type of restoration. We then administer anesthetic and remove the tooth decay.
After the decay is removed, Dr. Lowenguth will take an optical impression. CEREC optical impressions are done in just minutes. This method allows him to avoid the goopy impressions of the past.
Next, the CEREC machine helps the Dentist 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. Your Dentist then uses his or her dental expertise to design the restoration using the CEREC 3D computer program. Within a few minutes, your Dentist clicks a button, and 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, your all-ceramic, tooth-colored restoration is finished and ready to bond in place.
Finally, your Dentist tries the restoration in your mouth to ensure proper fit and bite. The restoration is then polished, paced under heat and pressure in a ceramic oven and finally bonded to the prepared tooth. Your tooth is restored with no “temporary” or return trip necessary. All of this is done in a single appointment! Ask us about CEREC today.
CEREC® is a registered trademark of Sirona Dental Systems
