Now more than ever, technology today is changing our everyday lives. Many people, however, aren’t aware that technology also is impacting dentistry, patient procedure wait times and dental crowns in particular, in new and exciting ways. Cutting-edge innovations in dental instruments are requiring less and less time in the dental chair, causing less discomfort and creating satisfying results for patients and dentists. One breakthrough instrument, called CEREC, allows dentists to quickly restore damaged teeth with natural-colored ceramic fillings, saving patients time and inconvenience.
CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. Translated into lay terms, it just means that a dentist can economically restore damaged teeth in a single appointment using a high-quality ceramic material that matches the natural color of other teeth.
CEREC uses CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) technology, incorporating a camera, computer and milling machine in one compact instrument to form a dental crown right in the office while the patient and dentist wait. The dentist uses a special camera to take an very accurate picture of the damaged tooth. This optical impression is then transferred to and displayed on a color computer screen, where the dentist uses CAD (Computer Aided Design) technology to design the restoration. Then the CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) takes over and automatically creates the restoration to the dentist’s exact specifications while the patient waits. Finally, the dentist bonds the new restoration to the surface of the old tooth. The whole process takes about one hour. That time frame would have been unheard of just a few short years ago. The CEREC, with its use of CAD/CAM technology is truly a breakthrough in modern dental technology.
A tooth-colored restoration means no more unsightly silver-colored fillings in smiles. The CEREC filling is natural-looking as well as compatible with tissue in the mouth. It is also both anti-abrasive and plaque-resistant. Dentists no longer need to take the extra time to create temporaries or take impressions and send them to a lab, eliminating several steps in the traditional crown application process. Because of this, the traditional second dental visit has been completely eliminated, saving time for both patient and dentist. CEREC has two decades of clinical research and documentation to support the technology. The restorations have been proven precise, safe and effective.
The amazing CEREC CAD/CAM technology is a complete win-win for both patients and dentists when it comes to restorative dentistry. It’s is safe, fast, effective and produces beautiful results that you can smile about. .