CEREC

CEREC is the world's only system for the fabrication of all ceramic dental restorations in one office visit.  For you, the patient, this means fewer injections, less drilling, and less time out of your hectic schedule for dental care.

A CEREC tooth restoration isn't just convenient, it is also healthy.  CEREC uses strong, tooth-colored ceramic materials to restore your teeth to their natural strength, beauty, and function.  These materials closely match the composition of you natural tooth structure.  The materials are bonded to your tooth, so we are able to save as much healthy tooth structure as possible while providing you with a dental restoration that strengthens your tooth.

Key Benefits:

  • Bio-compatible materials
  • Highly esthetic
  • Completed chair side in just one office visit
  • Saves more healthy tooth structure through more conservative preparation

CEREC Procedure

First, we will examine the tooth and determine the appropriate treatment.  It could be an inlay, onlay, or full crown depending on how much healthy tooth structure is remaining. 

Next, we will administer anesthetic and prepare your tooth for the restoration, removing the old fillings along with any decayed or weakened tooth structure.

Then, we will take an optical impression of the prepared tooth.  This is the CEREC alternative to filling a tray with impression "goop" that you must bite into and hold in your mouth until it hardens.  Instead, we coat the tooth with a non-toxic, tasteless powder.  The powder is the same material used to paint the M on M&Ms.  A camera is then used to take a digital picture of your tooth.

Next, the CEREC machine helps create the restoration for your tooth.  The CEREC 3D software takes the digital picture and converts it into a 3-dimensional virtual model on the computer screen.  We will then design the restoration using the CEREC 3D computer program.  Within a few minutes, the restoration design data is sent to a separate milling machine in the office.  A ceramic block that matches your tooth shade is placed in the milling machine.  After about 10 minutes, your ceramic tooth-colored restoration is finished and ready to bond in place.  Your tooth is restored with no "temporary" or return trip necessary.

What does CEREC stand for?

  • Chairside: the technology is in the dental operatory and used while you are in the chair
  • Economical: the procedure is economical for both dentist and patient
  • Restorations: the procedure restores your tooth to its natural beauty, function, and strength
  • of Esthetic: the restorations are metal-free and tooth-colored
  • Ceramic: High-strength ceramics (porcelain) are used that are close in composition to your natural tooth structure.