Going to the dentist for a restoration, such as a dental crown, can take time to complete. You will have to undergo dental impressions and then have those sent to an offsite lab, where the restoration is created. This requires a second appointment, often more than a week or two weeks later, to implement the restoration. This whole situation can be burdensome and time-consuming. The good news for patients is that this no longer needs to be the case! CEREC same-day restorations, offered at Elite Smiles of Pflugerville, allow patients to come in for a single visit and walk away with their dental crown the very same day.
With the continuing advancement of technology in dentistry, the need to wait for an offsite lab to create restorations is no longer necessary. Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEREC, is a technology that utilizes current computer design and manufacturing processes to develop restorations same-day and in-office. This may sound complicated, so let’s break down the technology.
CEREC technology allows for several types of restorations, including dental crowns, to be created without the need for traditional dental impressions. Your restoration will be developed in-office utilizing CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) processes so that you walk away with your restoration in place after just one visit. Digital impressions are taken, which are then passed to a unit that fabricates the ceramic restoration.
The CEREC process is usually completed in three steps:
Your dentist will apply a local numbing agent, if needed, so that the tooth requiring the restoration can be prepared. Once the tooth is prepared, a digital impression of your mouth will be taken.
Using specialized computer software, your dentist will design the model for your restoration. This restoration is custom-made for each patient so that it blends in with the rest of the teeth.
Specifications created during the design phase are then transferred to the manufacturing equipment, which will create the restoration with an incredibly high degree of accuracy. Once completed, the restoration can be immediately put in place and bonded to the tooth.
As a result, a process that used to take weeks can now be completed in a single visit!
At Elite Smiles, we strive to provide care that is safe, effective, and convenient. CEREC restorations really hit the mark on all three of these — in a single visit, you can walk away with your restoration in place. And do not mistake this execution speed for lack of quality. These same-day restorations provide the same strength, durability, and support as any other restoration from an offsite lab. Here are some advantages that CEREC restorations offer patients.
While CEREC restorations are every bit as durable as a restoration created in a lab, what our patients love most about this technology is the convenience it provides. You no longer need to make multiple appointments and wait with a temporary restoration, thanks to CEREC. If you are ready to restore your teeth using CEREC, please call us today for an appointment.