What is CEREC®?

It is a dental restorative system that allows dentists to restore teeth in just one visit. This is one of the most advanced dental technologies available today.

So basically this means that decayed teeth, broken teeth and teeth with old silver fillings can be repaired and restored in just one visit. And even more importantly, the materials used are the same high quality materials that the labs have been using for years.

CEREC® onlay restoration:

Why should you choose a CEREC® restoration?

Since 1985 CEREC® by Sirona has remained the preferred CAD/CAM technology of dentists worldwide for the fabrication of all-ceramic dental restorations in a single treatment appointment. CEREC® is proven by hundreds of clinical studies and is offered by thousands of dentists to millions of patients around the world each year. It also has the broadest restorative range of any dental CAD/CAM system on the market. Proven performance, unrivaled success, and unequaled capabilities have made CEREC® the number one dental CAD/CAM choice for over 28 years.

CEREC® inlay restoration

So how does a CEREC® procedure work??

Well, the first step is a thorough exam and determination of what treatment is needed for each individual tooth. Once a treatment plan has been agreed upon, then your CEREC® appointment can begin. Sometimes with emergency appointments, we do the whole procedure that same day!!

The first step is to anesthetize the tooth and then prep it for the filling, onlay or crown that is needed. This is the same as it always as been. But after the tooth has been prepared and the entire diseased portion of the tooth removed, this is where CEREC® is dramatically different from the traditional dental restoration procedure.
With the CEREC® AC unit, a digital optical impression is taken of the tooth. So instead of using goopy impression material, we spray a non-toxic powder on the tooth and then take a digital impression. From there, the CEREC® 3D software takes the photos and converts them into a three dimensional model of your teeth. Then as the dentist, we design your porcelain restoration on the screen right in front of you as you watch. The CEREC® software assists with this part. Once the restoration has been designed which takes approximately 5 minutes, the computer then sends the information wirelessly to the milling unit to mill your crown. We get to pick the shade of the porcelain block that best matches your tooth. All of this occurs chair side while you wait and watch! We have several different types of materials to choose from and multiple shades too. This allows for a custom restoration for you each and every time.

After the restoration starts to mill, it takes about 10-20 minutes until it is finished and ready to cement in your mouth. The all-ceramic tooth colored restoration will be tried in the mouth to verify the fit and bite. Once the restoration has been polished, it will be bonded into place. The procedure is now finished and you can go home happy. No messy impressions, no loose temporaries and no SECOND visit with additional anesthetic!! It is a win-win for both the patient and the doctor.

CEREC® quadrant

What does an “all-ceramic” restoration mean to me?

• CEREC® restorations are all-ceramic meaning several things to you as a patient:
• Metal free
• Esthetic
• Less tooth sensitivity because the ceramic restoration expands and contracts more similarly to natural tooth than does amalgam or gold.
• Preservation of tooth structure because ceramic restorations are bonded instead of glued.
• Less likely to develop future cracks in the tooth because it holds the tooth together instead of wedging it apart like amalgams do

CEREC® is exciting!. Patients are just raving about the ONE VISIT dentistry that is now available. Please ask us to tell you more about CEREC® at your next visit in our Hillcrest office!