The CEREC system saves you time and produces better results by utilising advanced technology to restore your smile with beautiful crowns, veneers, and inlays and onlays while you wait.
CEREC Dental – What is it?
CEREC (the abbreviation for Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic) has fast-tracked dental procedures and revolutionised dentistry.
Traditionally, if a patient requires a crown, inlay or onlay or dental veneer to restore a damaged tooth, several procedures, spread over numerous appointments would be the norm.
CEREC technology enables us to efficiently design and fabricate restorations in our dental clinic in just minutes. This means that many of our treatments can be completed in just one appointment often taking no longer than an hour of your time.
CEREC incorporates several CAD (computer-assisted design) tools and an onsite milling machine that creates beautiful custom restorative devices. Practically any ceramic restoration can be made to order, allowing our cosmetic dentist to place it immediately. This is particularly beneficial for nervous patients and can also reduce the cost of treatment. Now, that should bring a smile to your face!
How can CEREC benefit me?
How can CEREC benefit me?CEREC dental treatment can benefit almost anyone that needs a ceramic dental restoration. An exception would be a person with a deep bite or someone that has a history of breaking ceramic devices.
While CEREC devices were initially designed to last for five years, recent studies have shown that most CEREC dental restorations have exceeded expectations and lasted longer than ten years.
Now we’ve piqued your interest, you should know that CEREC has many advantages over conventional ceramic restorations. These include:
- Eradicating the need for ‘temporaries’
- Minimal invasiveness in terms of preparation and fitting
- High-quality ceramic products
- Cost-effectiveness
- Fewer dental visits
- Long-lasting restorations
- More of the natural tooth is retained
- Biocompatible solutions
- Patient comfort
What makes up the CEREC System?
A CAD/CAM system (Computer-Assisted Design and Computer-Assisted Milling) is how many people describe the CEREC system.
The CEREC system is made up of 3 key components and consists of…
Acquisition Centre – This in-house unit contains a sophisticated digital camera and a medical grade computer. The role of this unit is to take photographs of the prepared tooth. 3D images of the tooth are then created on the screen, which are used by our experienced dentist to design a perfect ceramic restoration.
3D CAD software – The flexibility of this software enables the dentist to examine the tooth from every angle, almost as it was being held and rotated in the hands.
Milling device – This is where the magic happens. The unit uses the specifications entered into the computer and from a single block of ceramic, sculpts the custom restoration. The blocks come in a wide range of translucencies and shades, enabling us to get a perfect match with your natural teeth.
The ceramic block is placed into the milling unit and starts sculpting your custom restoration while you sit back and relax with our in-chair entertainment system. Within minutes, the unit produces the restoration designed by our dentist. No nasty-tasting impressions and no time-consuming delivery to and from an external dental lab are required.
It’s that simple and that convenient.
So now you have the answer to “what is CEREC dental” and know more about the CEREC system itself, you’re probably keen to know what happens during the CEREC procedure itself. So, let’s dive in and take a closer look.
The CEREC Dental Procedure – What to Expect
The preparation
The first step of the procedure is the preparation of the affected tooth. Our dentist will prepare the tooth in the same way as for a traditional restoration giving you a local anaesthetic to relieve any discomfort. This involves removing any decay and creating a divergent occlusal axial wall that makes the opening of the tooth wider than its base.
Impression-taking and design
Impression-taking and designNext, an impression is taken with the help of a thin layer of dioxide powder. This powder enables the camera to take highly intricate pictures of the tooth. The CEREC camera then utilises an infrared wavelength to formulate the images. The images are then delivered to the computer screen. It’s from here that a dentist can examine a tooth from every angle to design CEREC dental restorations of all types. Once your custom restoration has been designed, the specifications are sent to the milling machine.
The milling process
The restoration is crafted from a single block of ceramic that has been meticulously chosen to mirror your natural teeth and is guaranteed to create a flawless match – thus bringing out the best in your smile.
Unbelievably, in just 15 minutes, your full crown, onlay, inlay, or veneer will be complete.
As opposed to laboratory layered porcelain, CEREC restorations are made from compressed porcelain which enhances both durability and strength for total peace of mind.
The final fit
Before bonding the restoration to the tooth, our dentists will dry fit it and make any necessary adjustments. The use of CAD/CAM technology helps us achieve a precise fit. Once we’re satisfied, the restoration is polished and bonded to the tooth with dental cement. The procedure is now complete – and all in a single visit!
In essence, you can expect the same high-quality results as would be achieved from a laboratory-generated restoration, with the difference being substantial savings on your time and money.
Our experienced dentist, Dr Jack Yang, will often recommend CEREC restorations because they give the patient the chance of permanent lifelike and long-lasting restorations, without the wait.
However, if you want a more comprehensive smile makeover that involves several different treatments, we may recommend conventional restorations from our chosen dental laboratory for optimal results. Our dentists will take the time to explain all of our high-quality restorative options, allowing you to make an informed decision.
If you’d like to restore your smile with CEREC dental restorations, then why not come and speak to the friendly experienced dental team at Infinity Dental Care. CEREC® technology can create beautiful restorations in a day with crowns, inlays and onlays, and dental veneers that will worth the cost.
Call us on (02) 9159 6237 or book your appointment online today and experience convenient hassle-free dentistry.