All You Need To Know About CEREC

CEREC is a CAD/CAM restoration system that creates accurate, high-quality tooth restorations in just one office visit! The CEREC machine crafts custom crowns and fillings right in the dental office chair. This means there’s no need for messy impressions or temporary dental crowns. You can relax while your restoration is being created—no need for a second appointment.

What Are the Different Parts of CEREC?

The CEREC system has two main parts: the CEREC camera and the CEREC milling unit. The camera takes images of the damaged tooth, which are used to design the ideal restoration. Then, the machine mills the custom ceramic restoration from solid blocks of porcelain. Once the design is done, and the restoration has been milled, the dentist will bond it firmly in place with dental cement. The whole process takes about one hour per tooth. Most patients find the process to be noninvasive and comfortable. 

What Are the Benefits of CEREC?

The most obvious benefit of CEREC is the convenience that it provides to patients. Dental restorations, such as crowns or bridges, usually require multiple visits to the dentist’s office – one visit to prepare the tooth and another to place the restoration. With CEREC technology, patients can get a dental crown in one visit with no need for temporary crowns or follow-up appointments. It is minimally invasive and eliminates the inconvenience of wearing a temporary crown while the permanent replacement is being fabricated by a dental lab.

Finally, CEREC technology allows for more aesthetic results. Because CEREC restorations can be milled from a single block of ceramic material, they can be made with a specific color that matches your natural teeth perfectly. As a result, your new CEREC restoration will look completely natural in your mouth. Your dentist can further customize your restoration to meet your individual needs and preferences.

How Does CEREC work?

Here’s how the CEREC process works: After the dentist preps your tooth, they will take a digital scan of your mouth using a high-resolution camera. Next, they use their software to create a custom restoration for your tooth and send the digital file to the on-site milling machine to create it. Finally, your dentist will attach the restoration to your tooth using a special adhesive. The entire procedure usually takes just one appointment.

Now that you know how the CEREC system works, it’s time to consider which restorative option is right for you. 

Is CEREC Right For You?

The answer to this question depends on your needs and preferences as well as your oral health and history. You want your restoration to last for a long time, so it’s important to choose an option that’s right for your needs. Your dentist can help you determine which type of restoration will suit you best.

Columbia View Dental is dedicated to providing you with safe, effective, and quality treatment. Contact us today at (541)296-5677 to learn more about our dental treatments. Get all your questions answered at Columbia View Dental, 1915 E 19th St, The Dalles, OR, 97058.