Everyone can have a healthy and pleasant smile. However, sometimes regular brushing and flossing aren’t enough to achieve it naturally. Several people get tooth decay and stained teeth. Because of smoking, consuming too much caffeine and alcohol regularly, genetics or brushing and flossing inadequately. If you miss regular dental exams it causes dental problems that tarnish your smile. Either for functional or cosmetic requirements, your teeth may need some restorative work sooner or later. Above all, one of the best options to make your teeth stay healthy and look great is the CEREC dental system.

Here’s everything you should know about CEREC and why should you choose it.

What is CEREC dental system?

• CEREC is an acronym for “Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics”.
• An advanced restoration technology, it is a digital design and manufacturing system in dentistry.
• The CEREC dental machine comprises a computer, camera, and milling instrument.
• It allows dentists to create tooth restorations in their office and complete the dental procedure, all within a day.
• For patients, it ensures a quicker, more convenient and safer experience.
• They do not have to live with a temporary crown until the lab delivers their tooth mold.
• Many studies show CEREC to be more effective and safer option for fixing damaged or unsightly teeth.
• Whether you want a brighter smile or tooth repair, CEREC can help.

How does CEREC help?

Alike traditional restorative dentistry, CEREC offers three types of restorations—crowns, veneers, and onlays.

Crowns

• Dental crowns are tooth caps that help restore its look and form.
• Dentists use crown to strengthen a cracked or decaying tooth, sustain a tooth with a large filling.
• After that, they restore a broken tooth, or make a cosmetic change.
• Also, root canal treatments end with putting a crown on the tooth.

Veneers

• A dental veneer is a thin and customized film to cover the front of your tooth.
• These work well to restore the esthetics of teeth that are stained, discolored, or chipped, or worn out.

Onlays

• A dental onlay or a partial crown helps support a tooth that is too damaged to support a dental filling. However, it is not irreparable enough for a crown. It covers one or more cusps of the chewing surface of your tooth.
• Traditionally, dental technicians create these three restorations at a local dental lab.
• It often taken two to three weeks before it reaches the dentist to complete the treatment procedure. However, CEREC helps complete the process within 2-4 hours.

How does CEREC work?

• CEREC’s innovative computer-aided design technology and software helps make natural-looking restorations in a short span.
• It makes the procedure non-invasive, safe, and effective.

So, what is the procedure like? Let’s understand.

1. Your dentist examines your oral health and prepares your tooth for the restoration.
2. They take digital photo of the treatment area using the CEREC software.
3. CEREC technology creates a 3D virtual model of the image. However, the dentist reviews it before the software creates the final restoration.
4. The CEREC mill shapes a ceramic block as per the specifications of your restoration.
5. Therefore, the dentist checks the restoration to ensure its shape, size, and fit before the final polish.
6. They bond it to your tooth.

How does CEREC differ from traditional restoration?

CEREC is a marvellous fusion of engineering and technology.

• To understand its technological superiority and utility, you need to know the traditional process for dental restorations.
• The traditional methods of dental restoration are time-taking and uncomfortable.
• It begins from preparing a tooth for a restoration to fixing the final restoration.

Here are the steps for this process.

• The dentist uses a gooey and uncomfortable mold to make the impression of the affected tooth.
• They fit a temporary restoration onto your tooth up till they get the final version of your restoration mold.
• Temporaries are unsightly, often weak, and might come off. In the meanwhile, the dentist sends the final mold of your tooth to a dental lab.
• Technicians at the lab create the restoration. It takes one to three weeks.
• Once your dentist receives the restoration, they will ask you to visit again for final restoration.

Take a look at the chart below for a full comparison between traditional lab-made restorations and CEREC restorations.

Traditional Restorations vs CEREC Restorations

	Traditional Restoration	CEREC
Pre-procedure steps	Firstly, healthier tooth structure may also get affected while removing the decayed part.	Minimal removal of healthy tooth structure.
Restoration designing	The use of sticky goop to make a mold feels unpleasant.	The dentist uses a digital camera to take a picture of your tooth, and upload it to the CEREC system.
Temporary restoration	Required	Not required
Manufacturing the restoration	A separate team of dental technicians create a crown in an off-site lab.	The dental professional models your restoration using the CEREC software, and helps create a permanent ceramic restoration the same day.
Placing the restoration	Patients need to visit again after one to three weeks.	Patients get a permanent restoration within a few hours. No requirement of a return visit.

Additional benefits of CEREC restorations

Alongside time-saving benefits and minimal discomfort, CEREC is a better dental treatment because of the following reasons.

1. Long-lasting & beautiful

CEREC restoration not only promotes a healthy tooth structure and gumline, studies show that CEREC restorations are also durable and  resemble your real teeth.

2. Better fit and comfort

The use of advanced digital technology ensures customizable restorations with a much better fit. It means minimal small gaps between your teeth. This prevents bacterial growth and consequent tooth and gum diseases.

2. Metal-free

Most importantly, CEREC restorations are a great option for those allergic to metals in traditional restorations.

Are there any disadvantages of CEREC?

There are rarely any downsides of using CEREC. Generally, compared to traditional restorations, it protects more of your tooth structure and takes less time. It is more effective, and worth the few extra dollars.

However, if multiple teeth need restoration work and your dentist may recommend other traditional dental treatments. An implant or a fixed bridge instead of a simple restoration.

Do you need more information on CEREC?

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