CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic)
How it Works (CEREC)
- Digital Scan: Instead of traditional putty impressions, your tooth is scanned with a 3D camera.
- Design: A computer helps the dentist design a custom crown on-screen.
- Milling: An in-house milling machine carves the crown from a solid ceramic block.
- Placement: The finished crown is fitted and bonded to your tooth, all in one visit, typically taking 1-2 hours.
Benefits
- Time-Saving: Complete restoration in one visit, no temporary crowns needed.
- Convenience: Saves time and hassle of multiple appointments.
- Precision: High accuracy with digital technology.
- Durability: Strong, natural-looking, and long-lasting.
Suitability
- Not all dental issues are suited for single-visit crowns; a consultation determines if you’re a good candidate.
Aftercare
- Care for it like a natural tooth: brush, floss daily, and maintain regular dental check-ups.
What is CEREC and what does it do?
Digital Chairside Dentistry
CEREC is a computer-aided system that combines 3D imaging, CAD/CAM programmes and a milling machine to create lifelike dental restorations with incredible speed and precision.The operative term in CEREC is “Chair-side.” This means that the dentist can design and fabricate the permanent crown or veneer as the patient waits. Not only does the patient avoid two dental appointments, but they also get the option to have a fully functional tooth in a matter of hours.
Our CEREC computer restoration system is the latest in dental technology.
Gone are the messy impressions, the unreliable temporary fillings and the waiting time between appointments for fitting.
How do we do it?
After your tooth is prepared the restoration is designed from a 3D scan and then cut from a solid ceramic block.
This is accomplished so precisely that it can be accurately fitted and bonded to the prepared tooth in the surgery in a short time and you can get on with your life. The non-metallic, ceramic material used looks and feels as natural as your own teeth and is incredibly safe and durable.
This technology would be suitable for teeth that may require a crown or a replacement for an amalgam filling.
Dental Lifeline is proud to bring you this state-of-the-art dental technology that has revolutionised the way a dental crown is prepared and fabricated – right in the dental office.
A dental crown is a cap that fits over an existing tooth to restore its function and aesthetic appearance. It is usually recommended for a decayed or damaged tooth that has lost too much structure, such that a regular filling fails to offer sufficient structural integrity or tooth stability.
Although the CEREC is most celebrated for its crown restorations, it can also be used to fabricate an inlay to replace larger fillings. Due to the stronger composite material that it uses, CEREC restorations are generally more durable and stable compared to traditional ones. The quality of the material also means that the dentist does not need to reduce as much tooth structure, hence making the tooth preparation stage less invasive for the patient.
How does CEREC do it?
After your tooth has been prepared for a dental crown, we will take a digital impression of the existing tooth structure using cutting edge 3D imaging equipment and software. The digital impression is then transmitted wirelessly to the CAD/CAM milling machine, which would then cut the new crown using diamond-tipped burs.
Using the unique CEREC software, the prosthetic crown is precisely cut from either a ceramic or porcelain block. Both are ideal prosthetic materials for artificial teeth built for extreme resistance to wear and tear. The monolithic blocks of ceramic and porcelain are biocompatible, anti-abrasive and plaque-resistant.
Throughout the fabrication process, our CEREC dentists follow a systematic set of protocols to ensure that optimum efficiency and quality standards are observed at all times. Following the fabrication process, the new crown is then permanently bonded to the prepared tooth with a special type of resin cement.
What are the benefits of a CEREC restoration?
Dentists and patients alike are reaping the benefits that CEREC offers as a “design-and-build” milling system. It is not an exaggeration to say that CEREC has redefined the very process of restoring one’s dental health and functions. While the most obvious benefits are the speed and efficiency with which a high quality dental restoration can be created, there are several other notable attributes.
CEREC uses stronger material and more advanced technique
CEREC restorations are increasingly favoured for their long-term health benefits. The all-ceramic material used for CEREC crowns is not only strong and durable but also biocompatible with your existing teeth.
CEREC’s advanced bonding technique only requires a minimum quantity of tooth structure to restore optimum function to the tooth. It is the preferred method for restoring teeth previously deemed lacking in structural integrity.
CEREC requires less grinding down of your healthy teeth
The CEREC technique allows you to preserve more of your healthy tooth structure. This makes the tooth preparation process less cumbersome for the dentist while minimally invasive for the patient.
In addition to crowns, CEREC is also recommended for the creation of ceramic veneers, which are popularly used to restore chipped or discoloured anterior (front) teeth.
CEREC lets you do it all in just one visit!
Of course, the biggest advantage of CEREC restorations is that it allows the entire process, from fabrication to fitting, to be completed in one visit.
Traditionally, the shaved-down tooth is fitted with a temporary crown while the patient waits for the permanent crown to be fabricated in a dental lab, which usually takes a few days. By enabling the permanent crown to be created during the course of the appointment, the CEREC system makes it possible to deliver a permanent crown on the same day.
What Our Patients Say
The best dental care I have ever experienced! Professional and friendly staff made me feel like family… would highly recommend to anyone!!!
This is a wonderful dental office with very professional and friendly staff and up to date technology. They took me at a very short notice when I needed emergency dental work, they were so nice and accommodating.
You know you are in good hands when you learn things about your bone structure that you had no clue about.
I was impressed by the attention to detail in maintaining a sterile environment, which was especially important to me given the current health situation.
