What is CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic)?
CEREC is an advanced dental restoration system that allows Dr. Inigo to restore decayed teeth, place crowns, remove defective amalgam fillings, or place cosmetic veneers in just one appointment. This allows you to have the highest quality, most realistic dental restorations in just one visit to the dentist. The state-of-the-art CEREC system was developed in 1985 at the University of Zurich Switzerland by a dentist and his electrical engineer Dr. Werner Moremann and Markus Brandisti.
How is the CEREC Procedure Performed?
- The defective filling and decay are removed. A reflective powder layer prepares the tooth for imaging.
- An optical 3D image is acquired with a small camera, directly in your mouth.
- The restoration is created on the screen using the image data.
- Diamond-coated instruments; mill a ceramic block to reproduce the design.
- This is accomplished during a single appointment using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM).
- After polishing the new restoration fits precisely.
- The unique light hardens the bonding material, uniting porcelain and tooth.
- Polishing or glazing ensures a pleasantly smooth and natural feel.
- The color and appearance make the special ceramic material blend with your teeth.
- Perfectly bonded porcelain ensures an extremely long life for your teeth.
- Maximum strength, great looks, natural results.
Digital Impressions
After examining the tooth and determining the best course of treatment to meet your needs, Dr. Inigo will prepare your tooth for restoration, similar to traditional treatment methods. Your prepared tooth will then be coated with a safe, tasteless powder. CEREC then uses a state-of-the-art digital 3D camera to create an optical impression. This impression replaces the physical impression traditionally used for these procedures. No more long waits while a tray of impression material hardens in your mouth!
3D Milling and Imaging
Dr. Inigo selects a ceramic block that matches the shade of the tooth being repaired. He then inserts the block into the Milling Unit. The data from the Acquisition Unit is used to direct two diamond-coated burs to carve the block into the indicated shape of the restoration. This process usually takes 8 to 18 minutes depending on the size and type of restoration. After the milling is finished, Dr. Inigo polishes the finished filling or crown and bonds it into place. With CEREC technology, Dr. Inigo can restore damaged teeth or enhance your smile with bio-compatible, tooth-colored materials in a single appointment. This technology has a track record of over 25 years, and more than 100 studies confirm the clinical excellence of the method. Ask us about CEREC today.
Digital Design and Engineering
State-of-the-art CAD software allows Dr. Inigo to design every precise detail of your restoration with the accuracy you’ve come to expect from us. The software allows us to customize the shape of the restoration to exactly fit your specific clinical needs.
Mill and Place
While you wait, exact design specifications are used in the milling machine on-site to create the restoration. About 15 minutes later, your all-ceramic color-matched restoration is then fitted, polished, and bonded for permanent placement. Your tooth is restored back to its natural form, function, and beauty.
CEREC Acquisition Unit
The CEREC Acquisition Unit is mobile and houses a medical-grade computer and the CEREC camera. Dr. Inigo uses the camera to take a digital picture of your prepared tooth. This picture is used instead of a traditional impression. This means no impression tray and material for you to gag on. The computer and CEREC 3D software will convert the digital picture to a three-dimensional virtual model of your prepared tooth. Dr. Inigo then designs your restoration right on screen using the software while you wait (and watch!). This software can assist him in designing any single tooth restoration: crowns, inlays (fillings), onlay (partial crowns), and veneers. Once Dr. Inigo has designed your restoration (usually about 5 minutes), he clicks a button, and the design data is communicated via a wireless radio signal to the CEREC Milling Unit.
Choose CEREC Today
- Single visit convenience; no temporary restoration.
- No impression trays.
- Beautiful aesthetics – with colour matched ceramic that is stronger than a traditional plastic white filling.
- Natural-looking smile.
- Clinically proven – millions of successful restorations worldwide.
