Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic (CEREC®) has revolutionized dental procedures. Traditionally, if crowns, onlays, inlays or dental veneers were required to restore damaged teeth, multiple procedures and a great deal of waiting time in-between would be inevitable. Now with CEREC, we can create these ceramic restorations in-house within a single appointment.
Custom CEREC restorations are made in-house at Lake Harbor Dental.
What is CEREC?
With the help of an infrared digital camera, 3-D imaging software, and a diamond-bladed milling unit, we can construct precise and highly detailed crowns, onlays, veneers, and fillings.
The CEREC system has three major components:
Acquisition device: This device is home to a high-quality camera and a medical grade computer. The function of this unit is to photograph the prepared tooth. Three-dimensional images are created of the tooth on the screen, which the dentist uses to design the perfect ceramic restoration.
Three-dimensional CAD software: This software allows the dentist to examine the tooth from every angle. It is the closest possible thing to holding the tooth in the hands and rotating it.
Milling device: This unit actually manufactures the custom restoration from the specifications entered into the computer. A ceramic block, which best resembles the existing tooth color, is chosen and placed into the unit. Within minutes, the milling device produces the restoration the dentist designed. No horrible-tasting impressions or time-consuming transfers to and from the laboratory are required.
How can CEREC benefit me?
CEREC can benefit almost anyone needing a ceramic restoration device. CEREC can make almost any ceramic restoration to order, meaning the dentist can place it immediately.
Most CEREC-created restorations can last for more than 10 years. Patients who may be nervous at the dentist office can benefit from this in-house procedure as it takes less time and helps reduce the need for multiple appointments.
Here are some other advantages associated with CEREC:
No temporary restorations.
High-quality ceramic products.
Minimal invasiveness.
Less injections and discomfort.
Fewer dental visits.
Cost-effectiveness.
More natural tooth is saved.
Long lasting restorations.
Biocompatible solutions.
What does a CEREC restoration procedure involve?
The first step in the procedure is to prepare the tooth. The dentist removes all tooth decay and creates a divergent occlusal axial wall, to make the opening of the tooth wider than the base. Next, an impression is made using a covering of titanium dust. This dust allows the camera to take a highly detailed picture of the tooth. Images are formulated with the CEREC camera. CEREC optical imaging utilizes an infrared wavelength.
Next, the image is transposed onto the computer screen. It is here that the dentist can view the tooth from every angle and design the final restoration. When the design is complete, it is transmitted to the milling unit. The dentist chooses a block of ceramic that matches the color of the teeth. This ensures that the restoration will be almost invisible.
Within minutes, the full crown, onlay, overlay or veneer is complete. The restoration is made of compressed, rather than laboratory-layered porcelain. This enhances strength and durability.
Before affixing the restoration to the tooth, the dentist will place it to dry to ensure it fits perfectly. It is then polished and affixed to the tooth with dental cement. The procedure is now complete, and all without the need for a second visit! The quality of the results is the same as the laboratory-generated restoration, but a great deal of time and money has been saved.
How Lake Harbor Dental Can Help
If you’d like more information or would like to make an appointment with one of the dentists on staff, please contact us to schedule an appointment. Lake Harbor Dental is conveniently located in Boise’s North End at the intersection of West State Street and North Harbor.
