Dental restorations help patients get their teeth back to their original form. Be it a broken or a chipped tooth due to an external injury, a badly discolored tooth due to external staining, or a naturally misshapen tooth, restorations such as crowns, veneers and onlays can be used to restore them to look aesthetically pleasing and perfectly functioning.
If you have ever had a conventional restoration done, you have an idea about how tedious the process can be and the number of days required for it to be completed. It may also require the dentist to take several pictures, x-rays, and molds of the teeth to determine the exact dimensions and contour of the restoration required. These limitations called for a simpler approach. That’s where an advanced procedure called ‘CEREC’ comes in.
What is CEREC?
CEREC, in simple words, means Same-day Ceramic Restorations. It is an advanced method of scanning the teeth using a hand-held scanner to acquire the data for fabricating the restoration. The data obtained will be input to a computerized milling machine, which mills out an all-ceramic restoration in a fraction of the time of a conventional restoration. So, using CEREC, we would be able to restore your tooth in a single visit at our dental practice!
What makes CEREC so quick and efficient?
CEREC technology allows dentists to manufacture custom restorations for their patients in just a few hours. The steps involved in CEREC are as follows:
The tooth that would receive the restoration would have to be prepared prior to the procedure. In most cases, a thin layer of enamel will be removed to accommodate the restoration.
A digital scan/photo of the teeth will be taken using the CEREC device.
The CEREC software will create a 3D model of the tooth using the data from the image taken.
A precise digital model will be created by the dentist after she manually makes any adjustments needed.
The machine very precisely mills out the required restoration from a block of ceramic in a matter of a few minutes. It will be highly accurate in terms of dimensions and contour. At Smiletheory, we like to call this machine our “3D crown printer.”
Once finished, the restoration will be placed on the tooth and checked for perfect fit and comfort. It will be polished to match the shade of the teeth and permanently bonded to the tooth.
The above process typically takes only a couple of hours. At Smiletheory, we strive to provide you with the latest technology that provides convenience and comfort, all while saving you precious time.
Get in touch with us by calling 408-227-0910 or schedule an online appointment to know more about CEREC restorations and to find out which one suits you best.