CEREC™
One-Visit
Crowns
Natural-Looking Crowns Made While You Wait
The dental profession is evolving, and so should your experience. New technology helps diagnose problems earlier, allowing dentists to treat problems sooner and with less-invasive techniques. Our dental practice in Purcellville, VA, offers the latest in comfortable, convenient dentistry with our CEREC™ OMNICAM tooth restoration system. Using the CEREC equipment, Dr. Timothy Smith can now complete a color-matched ceramic tooth restoration – filling, crown, or veneer – in a single visit. This technology uses biocompatible, tooth-colored material, so your dentition won’t be discolored by silver-colored fillings.
What is CEREC?
CEREC is a high-tech device used to design and manufacture ceramic tooth restorations at our Purcellville Dental office while you wait. The CEREC equipment comprises a digital infrared camera for obtaining an optical impression of the damaged tooth, 3-D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to help Dr. Smith design the ideal restoration for the clinical situation, and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) technology that uses two high-speed diamond burs to mill a precise restoration according to the CAD software specifications. The milling process is complete in less than 20 minutes, and the entire restorative procedure is completed in a single appointment.
Uses of CEREC
- Partial and full crowns
- All other single-tooth restorations, such as fillings
Benefits of CEREC
- Single-visit convenience
- Natural, tooth-colored restoration
- Biocompatible, anti-abrasive and plaque-resistant ceramic materials
- Hi-tech accuracy
- Metal free – no silver-colored fillings
- Preserves more healthy tooth materials
- Extremely precise for long-lasting, natural results
How Does CEREC Work?
Exam and Preparation
First, we examine the tooth and determine the appropriate treatment. It could be a simple filling or a full crown, depending on how much healthy tooth structure is remaining and the clinical judgment of the doctor. Next, we administer an anesthetic and prepare your tooth for the restoration, removing decayed and weakened tooth tissue. This preparation is just like what Dr. Smith would do for many other restorative techniques.
Optical Impression
Then, we take an optical impression of the prepared tooth. Instead of filling a tray with impression “goop” that you must bite into and hold in your mouth until it hardens, the doctor uses a digital scanner to take a digital picture of your tooth in full color. This whole optical impression process only takes a minute or two.
No Temporaries
Next, the CEREC machine helps Dr. Smith create the restoration for your tooth. The CEREC 3-D software takes the digital picture and converts it into a three-dimensional virtual model on the computer screen. We then use our dental expertise to design the restoration using the CEREC 3-D computer program. Within a few minutes, he clicks a button, and the restoration design data is sent to a separate milling machine in the office. A ceramic block that matches your tooth shade is placed in the milling machine. About 10 – 20 minutes later, your all-ceramic, tooth-colored restoration is finished and ready to bond in place. Finally, Dr. Smith tries the restoration in your mouth to ensure proper fit and bite. The restoration is then polished and bonded to the prepared tooth. Your tooth is restored, with no “temporary” or return trip necessary. All of this is done in a single appointment!
