Traditionally, if crowns, onlays, inlays, or dental veneers were required to restore damaged teeth, multiple procedures and a great deal of waiting time in-between was expected. CEREC® creates quality ceramic restorations within minutes right at our dental office! This means that many treatments can be completed in just a single visit. CEREC® is comprised of several computer-assisted design (CAD) tools and a milling machine that creates custom ceramic restorative devices. This is of great benefit to nervous patients, and also reduces the cost of treatment.
First our dentist will need to prepare the tooth and area for restoration. The length of preparation differs from patient to patient. Dr. Ryan will then take photos of the tooth where the CEREC® restoration will be placed using the CEREC® Omnicam. The Omnicam takes several different images of the affected tooth, and sends a 3D, colored model to the machine.
With the images shown on a screen, and Dr. Ryan will view your tooth from every angle and design your restoration. Once the design is complete, it will be transmitted into the milling unit. A block of ceramic, matching your tooth color, will be inserted into the machine, and your onlay, inlay, crown, or veneer restoration will be created. Dr. Ryan will then affix the restoration to your tooth giving you a smile you will be happy to show off!