CEREC is a method of computer-aided dentistry used for creating dental restorations. Dr. Cash and his team are skilled in the CEREC process, which was created by Sirona Dental Systems in 1985 and has changed the face of dental restoration.
CEREC allows dentists to construct, produce, and insert individual ceramic restorations directly in our office, and in a single appointment, rather than over multiple appointments. It is fast, safe, and provides a natural-looking restoration that will stand the test of time. CEREC also does more than just crowns. The revolutionary system is also used for:
- Inlays and onlays
- Veneers for chipped or discolored front teeth
- New fillings
- Replacing old amalgam fillings
A significant benefit of CEREC is that it’s healthier than other restorative options, since previously almost all restorations were done with gold, amalgam, or other metals. CEREC uses all-ceramic material that is durable and biocompatible with your teeth. CEREC also allows us to save more of the healthy tooth structure. This is because CEREC’s state-of -the-art bonding requires only a small amount of tooth structure to restore the tooth to it’s full function.
Another big advantage of CEREC is less time is spent at the office, in the chair, getting shots, and having your teeth drilled! Getting a crown used to mean two visits to the dentist, weeks apart. Thanks to CEREC, however, multiple trips to the dentist are no longer needed to achieve beautiful and long-lasting dental restorations.
Here’s how CEREC works: In a chairside treatment, the dentist carries out all the steps, from digital impressions and computer-based construction of the restoration to the milling process. The dentist uses an intraoral camera to take photos of the inside of the mouth and affected areas, and then based on the images, the CEREC software creates a virtual model of the patient’s tooth situation.
Dentists use this model to construct the tooth restoration on the screen and then pass on the finished construction wirelessly to a milling machine. Then, depending on the type of restoration, it is milled out of a color-matched ceramic block in mere minutes using diamond-coated milling units. The dentist can then add the finishing touches to the restoration by painting, polishing, and glazing it, before cementing it (the more traditional option) or adhesively integrating it, depending on the type of ceramic used.
According to studies, the ten-year lifespan of CEREC inlays polished and milled with the aid of a computer is not only significantly longer than that of gold inlays, but also exceeds that of individually laboratory-manufactured ceramic inlays. Further studies reveal that the success rate of CEREC restorations is 95.5% following a period of nine years and 84% after 18 years. The digital mapping technology of CEREC that charts the inside of the patient’s mouth is also completely accurate down to the last detail, which ensures that there is no issue with inaccurate dental impressions that lead the patient to experience discomfort with bulky molds and unnecessary debris in their mouth.
Call Dr. Gary Cash today to find out more about CEREC single-visit restorations.