We are very proud to offer our patients the opportunity to obtain quality ceramic dental restorations in just one clinic visit. This is made possible by the use of CEREC technology. In the following, we present information about this technology and its use in dentistry.
What is CEREC technology?
CEREC technology represents a fully computer-aided system for the design and fabrication of ceramic dental restorations. The main advantage of using it is that all stages of restorative treatment can be carried out in a single appointment, from initial impression taking to installation of the restoration.
CEREC technology is used to design:
- Dental crowns: The crown is an empty prosthetic tooth, which is placed over a tooth in need of restoration due to deep decay, root canal treatment, etc. A crown can also be used for aesthetic purposes to correct the appearance of a tooth. A crown can also be placed on an implant to replace a missing tooth.
- Inlays: an inlay represents an alternative to a traditional filling. It is intended to replace the part of a tooth that has been damaged by decay or following trauma (fracture or crack);
- Veneers: these thin porcelain shells can be installed on the outer surface of teeth to correct several aesthetic defects, such as shape, color, too pronounced spacing, etc.
How it works
How we mentioned, when using CEREC, every step of the restorative treatment is assisted by the technology. First, the tooth must be prepared to create enough space for the restoration to be placed. Next, here are the steps required to design and place the CEREC restoration:
- 3D impressions are taken of the tooth to be restored. This is done with a digital scan, by simply scanning the tooth.
- The digital impressions are sent to a computerized program that designs a digital model of the restoration.
- The digital model is sent to a robotized machining unit. This cuts the restoration from a high-quality ceramic block, using a milling process.
- Once the restoration has been fabricated, it is installed in the patient's mouth and then cemented in place. Final adjustments are made to promote smile aesthetics and patient comfort.
What are the advantages?
As we have mentioned, the main advantage lies in the speed of execution of all stages of restorative treatment. In fact, these are carried out in a single clinic appointment lasting around 2 hours.
What's more, because everything is done in a single visit, we don't have to install temporary restorations, which are often less comfortable and less aesthetic. The patient only needs to undergo a single local anaesthetic to place the crown or restoration.
Finally, the material used with CEREC technology is a very high quality ceramic. It is biocompatible with the human organism, meaning that it is very well tolerated by it.
For a CEREC crown in Town of Mount Royal or for any other dental restoration needs, consult the Prisma Dentistes team!
