How Does a CEREC Machine Work?
The CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) machine is a dental tool used to make customized ceramic dental restorations in one visit, speeding up a process that typically requires sending a mold of a patient’s teeth to a dental laboratory to get a part made, which can take up to a week and requires multiple trips to the dentist.
CEREC machines produce ceramic onlays, inlays and dental crowns with the use of 3D scans, allowing dentists to provide same-day restorations for patients who need crowns or dental implants.
How does a CEREC machine work?
CEREC machines use 3D-imaging software to make a detailed replication of your teeth. The process begins with your dentist taking X-rays and photographs of your mouth with the CEREC machine, which uses the information received to create a 3D model of your mouth. The Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software then highlights the parts of the model that need to be fixed.
Once the 3D model and the areas that need to be restored have been highlighted, the machine will create the restorative piece from a ceramic block. The machine-created piece will then be color-matched to your natural teeth.
The CEREC machine usually completes the process within 20 minutes. While you wait, your dentist will prep you for the restoration placement. When the CEREC machine finishes creating the required part, your dentist will complete the restoration, and when they are done, they will provide you with tips on how to take care of the restoration.
Advantages of CEREC machines
- Saves time: More dentists are having CEREC machines installed in their offices because it saves both them and their patients time — for example, if you go to a dentist’s office to get a dental crown and the dentist does not have a CEREC machine, they will have to take a mold of your teeth and send it to a laboratory to get the crown made, and then the dentist will give you a temporary crown until you come back in when the permanent crown arrives to finish the procedure; basically, having a CEREC machine eliminates the waiting period so you do not have to go back a second time
- Accuracy: The CAD technology used by CEREC machines provides the most accurate replication of your tooth, which means the size and shape of the replica will be almost identical to your real tooth
- Reduces waste: Due to the accuracy of the machine, the replica created by the CEREC machine is very precise, which means it only uses the needed amount of the material used to create the replica, reducing waste
Conclusion
CEREC machines allow dentists to create needed restorative parts in their offices, reducing the amount of time it takes to complete dental procedures. If you have to undergo a dental procedure and want to get it done in one visit, look for a dentist who has a CEREC machine in their office.
Request an appointment here: https://okamotoandbigleydentistry.com or call Okamoto and Bigley Dentistry at (626) 472-2178 for an appointment in our Pasadena office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: CEREC Dentist.
Recent Posts
Same-day crowns are now achievable due to CEREC® technology, which combines modern technology with significant advances in dentistry. Patients with fragile, fractured, damaged, or broken teeth may now have their dental condition assessed and even get a new dental crown designed and installed during one visit to the dentist's office. If you are considering CEREC…
CEREC® crowns are a popular dental restoration option for individuals needing to repair a tooth that is in bad shape. These types of crowns offer an array of benefits that traditional crowns cannot bring to the table. Keep reading to learn more about CEREC® dental crowns.Outlined below are a few of the benefits of CEREC…
A common question dentists receive about CEREC® crowns is whether they are as strong as traditional crowns. To answer this question, it is important to understand what CEREC® crowns and traditional crowns are made of and which material is stronger. This article is a review of which restoration option is stronger. CEREC crowns are most notably…
Thinking about choosing CEREC® dental crowns? The main benefit that comes with selecting this crown option is that there is no need to make more than one appointment, which means no temporary crowns, as patients can have any crowns they need to be placed on the same day. Choosing an experienced dentist to perform the…