CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEramic REConstruction) is a method of CAD/CAM dentistry. Developed at the University of Zurich in 1980, the CEREC technique is used to create dental restorations like crowns, veneers, inlays, onlays, bridges, abutments, and crowns for implants. With the aid of CAD/ CAM technology (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing), we can now design, fabricate, and insert ceramic restorations in your mouth in just one appointment instead of the traditional 1-2 week wait.
CAD/CAM systems have been on the market for over 30 years with over 250 scientific studies that have confirmed the clinical safety of CEREC tooth restorations. Worldwide, more than 30 million tooth restorations have been produced with CEREC. Our office is proud to offer this amazing treatment to all of our patients. At Lakeview Dental Centre, we use different types of dental ceramics to fabricate your CEREC restoration based on your individual needs.
Dental ceramics are not only a highly aesthetic choice to repair or replace your teeth, they also offer unparalleled strength, resistance to stains, and they are biocompatible, meaning they are very well tolerated by your body.
First, Dr. Newman removes any old filling(s) and existing decay and prepares the tooth for restoration. Images of the prepared tooth along with opposing teeth and the bite are recorded directly into the CEREC computer.
A 3D model of your teeth appears immediately on the computer monitor and you can watch the CEREC screen as Dr. Newman manipulates the software where the missing part of the tooth is designed to fit back in place, like the piece of a jigsaw puzzle. The result is a digitally customized and very exact replacement for your tooth.
The digital information is sent to a robotic milling machine for processing. A ceramic block that matches the exact colour of your own natural tooth is selected and placed in the milling unit where a precise diamond-cut ceramic restoration is instantly created, just for you. Some ceramics will have to go through a heat processing cycle to reach their full strength.
The new custom-made restoration is bonded onto your tooth and any necessary adjustments are made for your comfort. Within minutes, your CEREC restoration is complete.
