CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. This is a dental technology used to create custom dental restorations, such as inlays, outlays, crowns, or veneers. The main difference between a CEREC restoration and the traditional route is that the restorative piece can be created and fitted to the patient in a single, same-day visit.
How Does a CEREC Work?
A CEREC machine uses 3D imaging software to make a detailed replication of your teeth and mouth. The dentist will take photographs and an X-ray with the machine, and that is used to create the 3D model. The computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technologies are used to highlight the areas in the model that need to be fixed. Once the areas are highlighted, the machine creates a dental restoration from a ceramic block that will also be color-matched to your natural teeth. On average, this process takes around 20 minutes.
Pros vs Cons
One common dental restoration that the CEREC can make is a crown. There are many benefits to a CEREC crown, such as its appearance, strength, durability, and same-day procedure.
Appearance: The CEREC advanced technology allows the dentist to customize the crown to fit perfectly into the mouth and blend seamlessly with the rest of the teeth. A CEREC crown does not have a metal core, which makes it look even more like a natural tooth.
Strength & Durability: While a CEREC crown is made out of ceramic versus metal, gold, or porcelain fused to metal, it does offer great strength and durability. If you take care of it properly by following the list below, the crown is expected to last anywhere between 10 and 15 years.
- Wear a custom night-guard if you grind or clench your teeth at night
- Wear a custom mouthguard if you are playing sports
- Avoid chewing on hard objects such as ice or candy
- Do not use your teeth as a tool
- Eat a balanced diet and limit sugar intake
- Avoid drinks that can cause stains, such as coffee, red wine, or dark sodas
- Gently brush your teeth at least twice a day
- Floss at least once per day
- Schedule a routine checkup every six months for an oral exam and cleaning
Same-Day Procedure: Without a CEREC machine, the dentist has to scan your teeth, send the scans to a lab where the item is fabricated, and then be shipped back to the dentist’s office. That process can take weeks. Oftentimes, throughout that process, the dentist will have to fix you with temporary dental restorations requiring multiple follow-up visits for the patient. With a CEREC machine, a crown can be created in around 20 minutes. Overall, the convenience of a CEREC machine is unmatched, especially if you have a very busy schedule.
Overall, the CEREC machine has made it much easier to create dental restorations and eliminated multiple visits to the dentist as well as any waiting period. If you have any further questions regarding CEREC, please do not hesitate to reach out for more information.
Related Article: How Much Does a CEREC Crown Cost?