CEREC Same Day Crowns
What is Cerec ?
CEREC is an advanced system for the fabrication of all ceramic dental restorations (crowns) in one office visit. You can be in and out in a single visit with a permanent, all ceramic crown, inlay, or veneer!
For you, the patient, this means fewer injections, less drilling, no messy impressions and no temporary crown
(likely to fall before the last appointment) and less time out of your hectic schedule.
Most dental restorative methods require more than one visit to the dentist. This means that on the first visit, you get an injection of anesthesia, your tooth prepared, an impression taken, and a temporary restoration put on your tooth. You make a second appointment for a couple of weeks later, get another injection, have the temporary pried off (if it hasn’t fallen off already), and have a permanent restoration put on. Why go to the dentist a second time when you don’t have to? With CEREC, the procedure can be done in a single appointment, start to finish.
Exam and Preparation
First, Dr. Mann examines your tooth and determines 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 judgement of Dr. Mann. Next, she administers an anesthetic and prepares your tooth for the restoration, removing decayed and weakened tooth tissue. This preparation is just like she would do for many other restorative techniques.
Optical Impression
Then, Dr. Mann takes 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. A camera is then used to take a digital picture of your tooth. This whole Optical Impression process only takes a minute or two.
No Temporaries
Next, the CEREC® machine helps Dr. Mann create the restoration for your tooth. The CEREC 4.3 software takes the digital picture and converts it into a 3-dimensional virtual model on the computer screen. Dr. Mann then uses her dental expertise to design your crown using the CEREC 4.3 computer program. Within a few minutes, your Dentist 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, your Dentist 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!
