Turns Out You Have Better Things to do with Your Time
Technology is changing our everyday lives. Many people, however,
aren't aware that technology also is impacting dentistry in new and
exciting ways. Cutting-edge innovations in dental instruments are
requiring less time in the dental chair, causing less discomfort and
creating satisfying results. Our practice employs a breakthrough
instrument, called CEREC, that allows us to quickly restore damaged
teeth with natural-colored ceramic fillings or crowns, saving our patients time
and inconvenience.
What is CEREC? CEREC
is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic
Ceramics. Translated, it means that we can now economically restore
damaged teeth in a single appointment using a high-quality ceramic
material that matches the natural color of your other teeth.
How does the instrument work? CEREC
uses CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing)
technology, incorporating a camera, computer and milling machine in one
instrument. We use a special camera to take an accurate
picture of the damaged tooth. This optical impression is
transferred and displayed on a color computer screen, where we use CAD technology
to design the restoration.
The CAM takes over and automatically
creates the restoration while the patient waits. Finally, the
dentist bonds the new restoration to the surface of the old
tooth.
What does this innovation mean for the patient? A
tooth-colored restoration means no more silver fillings discoloring
smiles. The filling is natural-looking, compatible with tissue in
the mouth, anti-abrasive and plaque-resistant. We no longer need
to create temporaries or take impressions and send them to a lab.
Because of this, the traditional second visit has been
eliminated. The CEREC has taken over a decade of clinical
research and documentation to support the technology. The
restorations have been proven precise, safe, and effective.
What is CEREC?
The CAM takes over and automatically
creates the restoration while the patient waits. Finally, the
dentist bonds the new restoration to the surface of the old
tooth. 
