Imagine having your new false teeth finished and fitted in one visit! Can you believe that the long complicated dental procedures for having a new bridge or crown can now be completed in less than 60 minutes? This is possible with the new breakthrough in dentistry: CEREC technique.
But, what is CEREC?
CEREC is a new system which enables your dentist to choose the design, do the fabrication, and perform the needed adjustments for your brand new crown, veneer, inlay or onlay in a single visit. Normally, these procedures will take up to three weeks with conventional dental methods and not less than four visits to the dental clinic.
CEREC procedures are very easy. At first the dentist will prepare the tooth to receive dental restoration; whether crown, veneer, or onlay in the ordinary way. But instead of having an impression for your prepared teeth using a putty impression material, your dentist will use a special camera to take a digital image to your teeth. This digital image will be converted to a 3D computerized model. Usidcang special software, your dentist will design your new restoration on the computer, and then this data is transferred to onsite special milling machine, which will carve the design planned by your dentist on special ceramic block. Normally, the milling procedure will be finished in less than half an hour depending on the size of the restoration. Actually, new CEREC machines can mill a porcelain crown in six minutes only. Once the restoration is milled, your dentist will characterize it to your prepared teeth. A stain might be added to it to look exactly like your natural teeth. The last step is polishing or glazing of your new false teeth which are ready now to be cemented in onto the previously prepared tooth or teeth. Ceramic or porcelain blocks are supplied to your dentist in variable colors and shapes to match all types of teeth esthetically.
There are a lot of benefits of CEREC technology, including:
1. All the dental procedures are finished in a single visit.
2. The dentist has a complete control on the final design of the finished restoration, thus dental laboratory errors are eliminated.
3. There is no need for fabrication of a temporary restoration.
The main disadvantage of CEREC is its high cost, which varies from £380 up to £700 for a single tooth. But you must know that this price is nearly the same price you will have to pay for a single porcelain crown or veneer fabricated in dental lab.
