It wasn’t so long ago, when if you needed a new dental crown it would involve at least two visits spread over several weeks. However, Cerec technology has changed all that. Now, this system allows you to have a crown fitted in as little as one hour, in just one visit! This means less hassle, less inconvenience, and an altogether speedier solution. So how does it work?
The term Cerec (short for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) may be a bit of a mouthful. However, it utilises the latest in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacture (CAM) to quickly make the transition from impression taking to final fitting.
Under standard non-Cerec conditions, if a patient needs a crown, impressions are first taken. Those impressions are then sent across to a dental laboratory who would then make your crown using the impression as a guide. This can take several weeks. Once your crown has been made and delivered back to the dentist, you are called back in for a final fitting. Normally, this takes a minimum of two visits spread across several weeks.
With Cerec technology, on the other hand, before fitting Cerec veneers or Cerec crowns, your tooth is still prepared in the normal way. However, it’s after this point that the process differs.
Instead of using messy gag-inducing alginate which can be notoriously uncomfortable for patients, quick and non-invasive digital impressions are taken using a special digital camera. The digital image obtained is then converted into a 3D virtual model of your tooth.
After a quick check and once your dentist is satisfied, the data is sent to a milling machine located in the dental practice.
This, in turn, takes the data and using a solid block of ceramic, proceeds to manufacture the replacement crown or veneer. Depending upon the capabilities of the milling machine, Cerec crowns can be made in as little as 6 minutes, although typically, manufacture takes around 20-30 minutes.
So there you have it… a permanent restoration in just one visit – that’s the beauty of Cerec technology. No more temporary restorations or weeks of waiting. Instead, just a hassle-free and quick solution to a missing or cracked tooth problem.
It’s not a one-trick pony!
Perhaps the beauty of Cerec technology lies in its versatility. While Cerec crowns are very popular, you may be surprised to learn that Cerec fabrication and manufacture can also be used to produce high-quality Cerec veneers, inlays, and onlays. Utilising the same process, digital manufacture allows the latest milling technology to precisely craft thin shell-like veneers or exact fit inlays or onlays to aid badly stained, cracked, or damaged teeth.
What about aesthetics?
One of the benefits of modern dentistry is that much of the technology available, allows us to place emphasis on aesthetics as well as functionality. Ultimately, replacement veneers, fillings and dental crowns can be coloured exactly to match your existing teeth. So when it comes to Cerec technology, if you are concerned that the replacement crown or veneer will stand out for all the wrong reasons, then don’t be.
Here’s how it works…
Patients, along with the dentist, can select a near-perfect colour match from one of many ceramic blocks. Once your Cerec crown, veneer, inlay, or onlay has been milled, your dentist may stain it for an exact match. The restoration is then glazed, polished, and placed in a furnace to harden. Finally, your new restoration is cemented into position for that flawless smile.
How do Cerec restorations compare to non-Cerec crowns and other restorations?
While aesthetically, it’s fair to say that no other type of restoration comes close, is Cerec technology simply a case of style over substance?
In a word, no!
Studies have shown that during the first 9 years and under normal conditions, Cerec crowns have a success rate of 95.5% and around 84% up to 18 years. Typically, the lifespan of a conventional dental crown is somewhere between 7-15 years, depending upon the amount of wear and tear the crown gets.
As for Cerec veneers…patients can expect 10-15 years of hassle-free use, similar to those made in a conventional dental lab.
What about the cost? All that Cerec technology sounds expensive!
You may be surprised to know that Cerec crowns, veneers, inlays, and onlays aren’t that much more expensive than conventional restorations. Of course, the cost of the equipment will need to be factored into the price, but because everything is done in-house, dentists don’t have to add on costs for laboratory fees. So it kind of balances out. Not bad, especially when you factor in the difference in time – One day vs several weeks for a restoration!
Here at No Gaps Dental, we are a multi-location dental group operating in and around the Sydney Metropolitan area. Along with great family-focused dentistry, we offer affordable dental care without compromising on quality. For this reason, patients can experience the latest Cerec technology in some of our locations. If you have a cracked, broken, or damaged tooth and need a dental restoration, visit the No Gaps website to find the closest provider of Cerec crowns or veneers near you.