The CEREC Procedure

The CEREC Procedure: Because your time is valuable too...

Our dental health is priceless, but the fact is, most of us grew up during the time before fluoridation and parent education as to how important dental maintenance is (not just brushing but also flossing, reducing sugar intake, and regular dental check-ups), so very few of us have perfect teeth that are free of decay and dental work. You can probably see a filling or two in your own mouth, some that may even make up large portions of your restored teeth. In many cases, those fillings are made of either a metal material such as silver amalgam or an older generation of tooth-colored "plastic" composite, which can wear out and break down around the edges, weaken the tooth, or get new decay under or around them. The lifespan of these fillings under ideal conditions is on average about 10 years, depending on the circumstances of why they were needed and how they were filled. The CEREC procedure 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 or otherwise compromised to its natural strength and beauty. This is possible because it's done with all-ceramic materials that are tooth-colored, and in a single appointment! So, what is the CEREC procedure?

Exam and Preparation

First, Dr. Low examines the tooth and determines the appropriate treatment. It could be a simple type of filling called an "inlay," or a restoration that covers some portion of your tooth called an "onlay," or a full crown that covers and protects the entire tooth, depending on how much healthy tooth structure is remaining in his clinical judgment. Then your tooth is numbed and prepared for the restoration by removing the decayed and weakened tooth structure.

Optical Impression

Next, Dr. Low takes an "optical impression" of the prepared tooth. Traditionally when you have a crown made, a tray full of gooey impression material is inserted into your mouth and allowed to "set" for a few minutes in order to capture the details of the prepared tooth. Instead, Dr. Low dusts the prepared tooth with a non-toxic, tasteless powder. A special camera then makes a digital image of your tooth. This "optical impression" process only takes a few minutes, and you don't have anything goopy or gag-inducing in your mouth. After this step, you are free for about 30 minutes to relax, make a few phone calls, or run a quick errand, while the CEREC machine mills your restoration.

No Temporaries

Because this procedure is completed all in one appointment, you will not need to have a temporary made - no concerns about something temporary that has to last for two weeks before you return for the completed restoration. The CEREC machine helps Dr. Low create the restoration for your tooth. The CEREC 3D software takes the digital image and converts it into a 3-dimensional virtual model on the computer screen. Dr. Low then uses his dental expertise to design the restoration using the CEREC 3D software. Within a few minutes, Dr. Low clicks a button, and the data for your customized restoration is transmitted to the CEREC milling machine in the office.

A ceramic block that matches your tooth shade is placed in the milling machine. About 20 minutes later, your all-ceramic, tooth-colored restoration is finished and ready to cement in your mouth. Dr. Low seats the restoration in your mouth and checks that it fits properly to the tooth and that the bite is correct. The restoration is then polished and cemented to the prepared tooth. Your tooth has been restored without needing a "temporary" or a second visit! Ask us about CEREC today.