Cerec 3D Dentistry

CEREC 3D (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEramic REConstruction) refers to the use of hi-tech instruments in restorative dentistry to provide a single visit solution to a number of dental problems like dental inlays and onlays, broken or chipped tooth, placing a crown, or replacing old restorations.

What’s new?

Generally, dental restoration procedures require a minimum of two visits whereby, in the first one, the dentist, after deciding on the type of restoration required, would take an impression of your teeth to send it to a dental lab for getting a customized onlay, veneer, or crown made. He will also give you a temporary filling in the meantime. The second visit is made to get the actual fitting done.

With the advent of CEREC 3D technology, the restorations can be made right there in the dentist’s office using CAD/CAM technology. The CEREC 3D is a high-tech instrument that combines a camera, computer and a milling machine.

The Procedure

The tooth in question is prepared by applying a thin layer of reflective powder directly on its surface. The dentist then takes a digital impression of the patient’s tooth with a special, high precision camera, which uses infrared light for capturing the details. This image is then transferred to the CEREC computer, whereby the dentist uses CAD technology to design an accurate restoration standing right next to your chair. When the design is done, CAM takes over and creates the actual restoration from a block of ceramic matching your tooth colour. This process of milling the restoration takes just a few minutes. Once it’s done, the dentist fixes the newly milled restoration onto your tooth.

Advantages of CEREC 3D

• It has made one-visit dentistry possible resulting in minimum inconvenience to patients.
• The whole procedure takes a maximum of one hour to be completed.
• CEREC uses ceramic material for restorations, which is more biocompatible and natural-looking, thus ensuring physical and aesthetically better restorations.
• The patients’ teeth impressions are taken digitally in case of CEREC and are thus a lot more convenient for them.
• Better digital mapping of the mouth and teeth, ensuring more accurate restorations and less follow up work.
• Higher longevity compared to traditionally made restorations due to better fit.

CEREC has been around for over 30 years now, and over the years, many improvements have been made in the technology based on the feedback from both the dentists and the patients.