If You Are Pressed for Time, You Need CEREC Dentistry

We provide CEREC dentistry for patients looking for an immediate dental restoration or to improve the appearance of their smile. If you are currently in need of dental care and want to have your oral health issues solved immediately, CEREC is the best solution for you because it allows us to eliminate the need for a dental lab in most cases. This means there is no delay between when you visit our office with a need and when we will be able to resolve that need.

Traditional Dentistry vs. CEREC Dentistry

The difference between the two options is dramatic, and the best way to describe it is with an example. If you chip a tooth playing softball, you will need to visit a dentist to have that tooth restored so you can eat like normal and not be in discomfort. Typically, on your first appointment, your teeth will be examined and x-rays taken. Next, an impression of your mouth and measurements will be taken so information can be sent to the dental lab for them to create a new crown or veneer. While, in the office, a portion of enamel will be removed from your tooth so when the final restoration is complete, it can be placed without making your tooth appear overly large. The challenge is that your prepared tooth will be sensitive to everything, including air. To protect it, a temporary restoration needs to be secured using removable glue. You will then need to wear it for a week or two and be careful with what you eat and how you brush your teeth during this time. Many patients have complained that this is inconvenient and requires too many dental appointments since you would then need to come back in so the temporary can be removed and the final restoration bonded in place. That scenario is what you can expect with traditional dentistry.

CEREC dentistry is entirely different. When you come in for a restoration, measurements and images are taken and then uploaded into our software so a 3D model of your tooth can be created. The software will come up with a blueprint that is sent to our milling machine so your restoration can be completed while your tooth is being prepared. A portion of the enamel will still need to be removed, but once done, there is no need for a temporary restoration to be secured. This means you will not need to worry about what you eat or have the temporary come loose. Instead, you will be fitted for a permanent restoration before you leave, and we will bond it in place. When you walk out our doors, you will be doing so with a fully restored tooth that looks completely natural. In this way, CEREC dentistry is enhancing and improving the experience of our patients.

Given how fast and easy CEREC dentistry is, many of our patients are also seeking this solution to improve the appearance of their teeth by using restorations to close gaps, make teeth appear straighter, cover dark stains, and more. To learn about these options for your smile, call and schedule an appointment today.

Dental Veneers  >  Invisalign Dentist

CEREC Dentistry: The Future of Dental Restorations

As a provider of CEREC dentistry, we are happy to brag about the latest technology being used in our office.  For patients that are in need of restorations due to a car wreck, sports injury or a health issue, we can complete the restoration in one convenient visit.  We understand that our patients are busy with lives full of meetings, school activities, sports, family obligations and all of the other little things that make up modern life.  This can leave very little time for trips to the dentist.  Moms may find this especially challenging when trying to also arrange for child care or pick-ups and drop-offs.  This is why we have found a faster way to complete restorations.

If your tooth is damaged, we recommend that you visit our office right away so that we can examine it and determine the best way to restore it.  If your tooth is cracked, chipped or the enamel has worn way, there is a good chance that we will recommend using a dental crown to restore it.  A crown surrounds the tooth like a cap so that nothing can touch the tooth underneath.  This makes it possible to save teeth that have been severely damaged while giving you the ability to bite down with force, without the fear of discomfort. 

The past…
Previously, those that needed a dental crown could benefit from this comprehensive solution but in order to get there, it would take at least two appointments.  On the first appointment, an impression would be made of the tooth and the surrounding teeth so that the dental lab could use that information to create a crown in the right size and shape.  Since each crown has to fit perfectly in order for your bite to correctly function, it would take the lab one to two weeks to finish it.  During that time, we would prepare the tooth by removing enough enamel so that when the crown was placed, the surrounding teeth would not be irritated.  Since there was a delay between tooth preparation and receiving the crown, we would place a temporary crown over the tooth in order to protect it.  CEREC dentistry has changed this part of the process.

Right now…
Instead of making an impression of the teeth and sending the information to the lab, we can now take digital images of the damaged tooth and mouth that can be uploaded into our CAD software.  The computer is then able to create the exact specifications for the crowns shape.  These instructions are then sent to a 3D printer for the crown to be created while you wait.  All of this is done using computer technology so that no human intervention is required.  This makes it possible to complete what was previously done in two weeks, in two hours or less.  In the meantime, we will still prepare your tooth. The difference is that we can immediately bond the permanent crown in place so that you don’t have to wear a temporary or come back in for a second step.  This makes CEREC dentistry the wave of the future and a convenient one at that.