#CEREC" CEREC stands for "Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics" and was developed by the Sirona dental technology company. It is a new development in dental technology that allows your dental practitioner to produce precise ceramic restorations. Through the use of computer assisted technologies, dental restoration procedures can be performed in a single visit to your dentist's office.
Technology
The reparation area is photographed, then stored as a three dimensional digital model. This can be used for repair/replacement of:
· Cavities
· Teeth
· Crowns
Once the image is photographed, software is used to approximate the shape of the restoration through the use of biogeneric software. The machine can accurately reproduce a tooth that needs a filling, or a tooth that needs replacing through comparisons with surrounding teeth. It can also create a crown that fits precisely over a tooth.
The new ceramic model is refined using 3D CAD software. Then a milling unit creates the restoration out of a composite block or a small block of ceramic. The ceramic material expands and contracts in response to changes in temperature and wears about the same as enamel does. The composite material is best used for restoring smaller inlays.
A ceramic crown can be produced in approximately four minutes. The shaping is done by diamond-head cutters that are controlled by the computer. Once the restoration is completed, it is bonded in place using a resin.
Technique
Your dentist prepares your tooth for your specific procedure by coating it with a white powder. The 3D camera images the tooth and uploads the information to the CEREC computer. Using the software, your dentist can design the appropriate form and function of your restoration.
The restoration data is stored in a file that is transmitted directly to the milling unit. Your restoration is then milled out of a composite block or a block of ceramic. Milling time can vary from four minutes to 20 minutes depending on how complex the restoration is.
Advantages and Disadvantages of CEREC
CEREC offers several advantages over older technologies. Some of these include:
· Preparation of the teeth is less invasive. Maintaining more of the natural tooth helps the reparation and the original tooth to last longer.
· The procedures require only one visit to your dentist, in most cases.
· Less injections of local anesthetic are needed.
· It enables the staff to work more efficiently.
· It reduces your dentist's costs of fabricating and placing the restorations.
Some disadvantages to this new technology include:
· The patient's teeth must be powdered before any images are taken.
· The technique of tooth preparation is time consuming.
· The ceramic restorations cannot be used on all teeth or on all patients.
· Ceramic restorations can break. There is a possibility that a break can be the result of the patient grinding their teeth.
· The system purchase cost is very high.
· Substantial training and experience is necessary for your dentist to be proficient.
CEREC technology has allowed dental practitioners to offer an added precision to their work that provides the patient with higher quality results in fewer visits to the office.
