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The CEREC® Procedure

Let's face it, very few of us have perfect teeth, free of decay and fillings. You can probably see a filling or two in your own mouth, which do just that -- "fill" a cavity, or hole, in your tooth left from the excavation of decayed tooth structure. In many cases, those fillings are made of metal material and can go bad, weaken the tooth, or get additional decay under or around it. In fact, 1.2 billion of these metal fillings will need to be replaced in the next 10 years. CEREC® is a method used by thousands of dentists worldwide since 1987, not only to replace these fillings, but also to restore any tooth that is decayed, weakened, broken, etc. to its natural strength and beauty. Better yet, it's done with all-ceramic materials that are tooth colored in a single appointment!

Exam & Preparation

First, your dentist examines the tooth and determines the appropriate treatment. It could be a simple filling or a full crown, depending on how much healthy tooth structure is remaining and the clinical judgment of your dentist. Next, your dentist administers an anesthetic and prepares your tooth for the restoration, removing decayed and weakened tooth tissue. This preparation is just like he or she would do for many other restorative techniques.
Optical Impression

Then, your dentist takes an optical impression of the prepared tooth. Instead of filling a tray with impression "goop" that you must bite into and hold in your mouth until it hardens, your dentist coats the tooth with a non-toxic, tasteless powder. A camera is then used to take a digital picture of your tooth. This whole optical impression process only takes a minute or two.

No Temporaries

Next, the CEREC® machine helps the dentist create the restoration for your tooth. The CEREC® 3D software takes the digital picture and converts it into a 3D virtual model on the computer screen. Your dentist then uses their expertise to design the restoration using the CEREC® 3D computer program. Within a few minutes, your dentist clicks a button and 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. About 10-20 minutes later, your all-ceramic, tooth-colored restoration is finished and ready to bond in place. Finally, your dentist tries the restoration in your mouth to ensure proper fit and bite. The restoration is then polished and bonded to the prepared tooth. Your tooth is restored with no "temporary" or return trip! All of this is done in a single appointment! Ask us about CEREC® today.

What is CEREC®? CEREC® is an acronym ...

* 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.
* Restoration: The procedure restores your tooth to its natural beauty, function, and strength.
* Esthetic: The restorations are metal-free and tooth-colored.
* Ceramic: High-strength ceramics are used that are close in composition to your natural tooth structure.

CEREC® is an advanced dental restorative system that allows your dentist 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 lifelike dental restorations in just one visit to the dentist ... in, out, and on with your busy life.

CEREC Acquisition Unit

The CEREC® Acquisition Unit is mobile and houses a medical grade computer and the CEREC® camera. Your dentist 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 converts the digital picture to a 3D virtual model of your prepped tooth. Your dentist then designs your restoration right on screen using the software while you wait (and watch!). This software can assist your dentist with designing any single tooth restoration: crowns, inlays (fillings), onlays (partial crowns), and veneers. Once your dentist has designed your restoration (usually about five minutes), he or she clicks a button and the design data is communicated via a wireless radio signal to the CEREC® Milling Unit.

CEREC® Milling Unit

Your dentist or dental assistant selects a ceramic block that matches the shade of the tooth being repaired. He or she 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 8-18 minutes depending on the size and type of restoration. After the milling is finished, your dentist polishes the finished filling or crown and bonds it into place.

CEREC® is a registered trademark of Sirona Dental Systems

Most dentistry looks like dentistry. Our goal is to provide dentistry that is undetectable. We replace existing crowns and fillings with restorations that look and feel like your natural teeth.

Where damage to a person's teeth is extreme and apparently beyond repair, we can use porcelain to make the smile appear "as new". This is an extremely reliable technique for repairing the most severe of dental problems, even permanently replacing missing teeth, to offer a complete smile and a functional bite. We are renowned for the quality of our work and the fantastic changes we make for people using this technology. These treatments are used for a long-lasting correction of major dental problems. It is usual for these treatments to last for 20-30 years, which is as close to permanent as dental treatment can get. This, of course, is directly related to the health of your gum tissue.

How Long Does It Take To Fit A Dental Crown?

* One Appointment - One Hour

Key Benefits Of Dental Crowns

* Replaces missing teeth
* Offers support to misshaped teeth or badly broken teeth
* Looks completely natural
* Fixes "smile" and functional chewing problems

What Are The Capabilities Of Crowns?

Crown and bridgework are a very reliable solution for major dental problems caused through accidents, diseases, or wear and tear. Major problems can usually be corrected using these techniques. Material used in these repairs are either high-grade porcelain or porcelain bonded to gold. A higher strength of the porcelain and gold materials is recommended to treat the most serious of dental problems. Where accidental damage has occurred, resulting in lost teeth, or where teeth have broken away through excessive wear, or as the result of old fillings breaking, crowns and/or bridges can be used as a long-term solution.

Many people have unexplained pain from filled back teeth which is usually due to hairline cracks in the chewing part of the tooth. Placing crowns on these teeth relieves the pain and allows a return of full dental function for these teeth. In front teeth, older fillings can both weaken the teeth and cause appearance problems due to staining or chipping. Porcelain crowns and bridges are suitable in cases where porcelain veneers are not. In teeth with root canal crowns can prevent breakage.