What is CEREC 3D?

CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. Translated, it means that a dentist can economically restore damaged teeth in a single appointment using a high‑quality ceramic material that matches the natural color of other teeth.
 

Before:

How does the instrument work? 

CEREC uses CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) technology, incorporating a camera, computer and milling machine in one instrument. The dentist uses a special camera to take an accurate picture of the damaged tooth. This optical impression is transferred and displayed on a color computer screen, where the dentist uses CAD technology to design the restoration. Then CAM takes over and automatically creates the restoration while the patient waits. Finally the dentist bonds the new restoration to the surface of the old tooth. The whole process takes about one hour.
 

After:

What does this innovation mean for a patient? 

A tooth‑colored restoration means no more silver fillings discoloring smiles. The filling is natural‑looking, compatible with tissue in the mouth, anti‑abrasive and plaque resistant. Dentists no longer need to create temporaries or take impressions and send them to a lab. Because of this, the traditional second visit has been eliminated. 

The CEREC 3D has over a decade of clinical research and documentation to support the technology. The restorations have been proven precise, safe and effective.
 

What Is CEREC? 

CEREC is a high‑tech instrument that helps dentists restore damaged teeth. CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics.
 

How Does CEREC Work?

First, the dentist prepares the darnaged tooth by painting a thin laver of reflective powder directly on the tooth's surface. Using a special camera, the dentist then takes a picture of the tooth. No need to take a messy impression and send it to the lab. The dentistworks; from this photo, which is actually a pin‑sharp optical impression of the tooth.

Computer aided design technology helps the dentist design the restoration from the optical impression. The design is done chairside on a color monitor. Patients can watch the dentist design the new restoration right in front of their eyes!

Then computer aided manufacturing creates the restoration while the patient waits. The tooth is milled out of a block of ceramic material that matches the patient's tooth color. Computer aided manufacturing uses a high‑speed diamond bur and a disk simultaneously to mill a precise restoration. The milling takes about 10 minutes. Finally, the dentist bonds the newly milled restoration to the tooth using an adhesive.

What Kinds of Procedures Can It Perform?

      + Partial and full crowns

      + Veneers

      + All other single‑tooth restorations

What Are the Advantages CEREC Offers?

   +  The dentist performs the restoration in a single session, usually in less than one hour

   +  No need for the dentist to make an impression and send it to a lab

   +  No return visits for the patient

   +  The restoration is natural looking, as it is made out of tooth‑colored ceramic material

Is This a New Technology?

No. CEREC has over a decade of clinical research and experience to support the technology. The manufacturer of CEREC has relied on user input and research to improve the product over this time. Over four million restorations have been performed worldwide.