What is CEREC®?

Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic or CEREC® for short is a new state-of-the-art method of reconstructing tooth restorations. CEREC® uses computer-assisted design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) to offer single-day restorations for patients. This new technology has revolutionized ceramic restorations such as crowns and veneers for patients so that there is no longer a wait between preparing the restoration and finally receiving the finished product. With CEREC®, the technology is used while you are sitting in the dental chair, which is both economical for you and your dentist. The restorations created are metal-free and tooth colored to restore your tooth to its natural beauty, strength and function. With CEREC®’s CAD-CAM technology, these ceramic restorations can all be done in one single visit to the dentist.

These ceramic restorations can all be done in one single visit to the dentist.

The CEREC® Process

CEREC® uses CAD-CAM technology to design and mill custom restorations during one visit to the dentist. So how does this process work?

• Exam and Preparation

  Before you get started, your dentist will determine if CEREC® is right for you. Depending on how much healthy tooth structure you have remaining, it may be a simple filling or you may need a crown. After reviewing your options, the dentist will begin the process by administering anesthetic and preparing your tooth for restoration by removing decay and weakened tooth tissue.

• Optical Impression

  In order to make the desired restoration, a 3-dimensional image of the tooth that needs to be restored must be created from a digital camera scan of the tooth. This three-dimensional image will be used to create the restoration without the need to take a messy impression. This means no horrible tasting impression material for you to gag on. The computer and CEREC® 3D software then converts the digital image into a three-dimensional virtual model of the prepared tooth.

• Milling Unit

  This device is used to used to create the custom restoration needed for the tooth. Based on the original color of your tooth, the dentist is able to select the correct colored ceramic block and in a few minutes, the milling device is able to create the restoration needed.

• Placing the Restoration

  After the restoration is made, it is ready to be tried on to ensure that you get proper fit and bite. When it is ready, the restoration is polished and bonded into place by your dentist. Therefore, no temporary restoration is needed and no return trip is necessary, saving you time and money.

Advantages to Using CEREC®

CEREC® has revolutionized the restorative process. It was created with the patient in mind in order to make a visit to the dentist as pain-free as possible. Some of the benefits to using CEREC® are:

• Most procedures can be done in one visit – less costly and less time-consuming
• Less painful injections due to single-visit
• No need to take messy impressions
• No need to have a temporary restoration for in-between visits
• Ability to save as much natural tooth structure as possible
• Longer lasting restorations – may last over 10 years
• Restores teeth to natural beauty, function and strength
• Metal-free restorations

Have a chipped, broken, or stained tooth? Repairing teeth can be extremely complicated with various impressions and temporary fillings taking a considerable time.

Now this can simply be achieved in just one visit, and in less than one hour.

After your tooth is prepared, it is scanned with an electronic camera that allows you to see the image on a video screen. The restoration is designed from this scan and then automatically milled out from a solid ceramic block. This is accomplished so precisely that it can be accurately fitted and durably bonded to the prepared cavity. CEREC restorations are made from ceramic — a natural substance that is particularly compatible with the body. The CEREC ceramic has the same characteristics as normal, healthy, dental enamel. This means it is similarly hard wearing — for example when undergoing the daily grinding of food. Nor is it affected by hot or cold — coffee or ice-cream. Furthermore, the ceramic is so smooth that bacteria do not stand a chance.

How about getting a complete set of porcelain veneers in only four hours? It can be done this fast with CEREC porcelain veneer technology.

The difference between these and conventional porcelain veneers is that they are made in a CEREC machine in our dental office. Your teeth are prepared, an optical scan is taken of the prepared teeth, and then a computerized milling machine makes the veneers in our dental office. Conventional veneers are made using an impression of your teeth that is sent to a dental laboratory. It can take from one to three weeks for the finished case to get back to the dental office.

With our unique CEREC technology we can complete your veneer in just one day!

Using a CEREC porcelain milling computer, we can create a porcelain crown or a porcelain veneer quickly—on the spot. This eliminates the requirement for a second appointment for the patient to come back and get the crown or veneer placed. This not only saves the time, but saves discomfort from having to wear a temporary crown or veneer that will later have to be removed.

The portion of the tooth containing the nerve and pulp is called the root canal. When a tooth (or teeth) becomes infected, it may be necessary to perform root canal therapy to save the tooth. Using advanced technology such as a rotary files, ultrasonic instruments and the CEREC system for same-day crowns, we can complete your root canal treatment and place a permanent crown in a single visit.

With the CEREC system, we can provide you with a permanent crown after your root canal treatment. You won’t need a temporary crown or an additional appointment.

Keeping you comfortable
We will use a local anesthetic to keep you comfortable during the treatment, and for patients who are a bit more anxious, we offer oral sedation.

CEREC Crowns = One Visit
After root canal therapy has been completed, it is usually necessary to place a crown over the tooth for protection. With our CEREC system, we can design, mill and fabricate your new porcelain crown in about an hour. Your entire root canal procedure will be completed in one office visit; you won’t need a temporary crown or a second appointment.

An immediate denture is a complete denture or partial denture inserted on the same day, immediately following the removal of natural teeth. Immediate dentures (also called temporary dentures) are actually made before the natural teeth are extracted. The patient walks into the office with natural teeth, and walks out with false teeth. The teeth are extracted, and a prefabricated denture is inserted immediately, while the patient is still numb from the extractions.

The patient walks into the office with natural teeth, and walks out with false teeth

The construction of an immediate denture requires only one or two preliminary appointments before the insertion date, depending on how many natural teeth the patient has left.

Most of us start out with sparkling white teeth, thanks to their porcelain-like enamel surface. But over the years enamel is worn down, becoming more transparent and permitting the yellow color of dentin – the tooth’s core material – to show through. During routine chewing, dentin remains intact while millions of micro-cracks occur in the enamel. It is these cracks, as well as the spaces between the crystalline enamel rods, that gradually fill up with stains and debris. As a result, the teeth eventually develop a dull, lackluster appearance. Teeth whitening removes the stains and debris, leaving the enamel cracks open and exposed. Some of the cracks are quickly re-mineralized by saliva, while others are filled up again with organic debris.

Bleaching (whitening) products contain an active ingredient called hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Whitening activates the peroxides to release oxygen molecules that enter the enamel micro-fractures to break down stain pigmentation. Laser whitening, such as Zoom, causes the rapid release of oxygen within a few minutes. This is accomplished by using a high intensity light source.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.

Our periodontists have the experience, knowledge, training and facilities that you need to have your teeth feel just like your own.

Types of Dental Implants

• Endosteal (in the bone): This is the most commonly used type of implant. The various types include screws, cylinders or blades surgically placed into the jawbone. Each implant holds one or more prosthetic teeth. This type of implant is generally used as an alternative for patients with bridges or removable dentures.
• Subperiosteal (on the bone): These are placed on top of the jaw with the metal framework’s posts protruding through the gum to hold the prosthesis. These types of implants are used for patients who are unable to wear conventional dentures and who have minimal bone height.