One of the best things about the world of dentistry is that it’s always changing. Researchers are constantly developing safer, more convenient ways to correct dental imperfections. One of the neatest, newest developments to come about is CEREC, or Ceramic Reconstruction, which makes it possible to complete certain procedures in just one visit. Today, our Charlotte dentist discusses how CEREC works to give you same-day crowns, inlays, and veneers!
As we stated above, CEREC stands for Ceramic Reconstruction. This cutting-edge piece of dental equipment is able to digitally scan the mouth, design a replacement restoration option on the spot, and mill the final restoration. CEREC machines are an incredible innovation in dentistry, as they allow procedures that typically take weeks (crowns, veneers, and inlays/onlays) to be completed within a single appointment.
When a patient comes in for their single-day crown, veneer, or inlay/onlay, our Charlotte dentist will use a highly sensitive precision wand to digitally scan the area of the mouth where restoration is needed. As the wand scans the area, it builds a virtual model of the mouth and teeth, which the patient can watch on the screen. If the virtual model needs to be tweaked, the dentist is able to perform alterations until it represents the patient’s mouth exactly.
Once the machine has created the digital model, it then designs a crown, veneer, or inlay/onlay. The design is then sent to a milling machine, which creates the restoration out of color-matched porcelain. This restoration is final, not temporary, and is of the same quality we would expect to receive from a traditional dental lab.
Finally, the restoration is test-fitted to the area, any final adjustments are made, and the restoration is permanently bonded to the tooth. The patient is able to achieve a perfect restoration in just a single visit.
Needless to say, CEREC is an amazing improvement on traditional dental methods, which typically require patients to wear a temporary restoration while waiting for the final version to come back from the lab. Not only is it frustrating for the patient to have to come back for another appointment, but it is not ideal for the tooth, either. Temporary crowns often become dislodged, and can then easily be swallowed or lost, leaving the sensitive dentin unprotected and exposed and forcing the patient to return for an emergency appointment. CEREC crowns allow patients to get fast dental restorations as soon as they are needed.
If you live in Charlotte and are in need of a dental restoration, stop by Park Cedar Dentistry. We can’t wait to meet you and help you achieve the best possible smile!
