Anyone who’s ever had a crown or veneer done in the “old days” (current days in many offices) knows the dread of losing a temporary, staring at that unsightly blob on your tooth and then eventually heading back to the dentist multiple weeks later to have the permanent restoration cemented on. Then what happens when the color doesn’t match, the fit isn’t just right and you have to do it all over again? Frustration, disgust and more time off work. Now, anyone who has ever had a CEREC or same-day crown or veneer placed can vouch for the amazing experience it is to walk in with a snaggle tooth and walk out the very same day with your permanent crown or veneer looking amazing and feeling great.
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic. It is a CAD/CAM method of scanning, designing and milling a restoration, all while you’re snug in the chair, and with nary a temporary or icky impression to be seen! So, is it just more convenient to get a CEREC? Is that the only reason it’s so wonderous? Well, I’m glad you asked. No, in fact that might be the least important reason to ask for a CEREC crown. In addition to being more convenient and easy, even the impression is more accurate due to the digital nature of recreating the teeth. The days of goopy, sloppy and bad-tasting impressions are nearing their end. With digital impressions, the topography of the tooth and surrounding tissues can be more exactly captured and duplicated. We are even able to print models with a 3-D printer if necessary, and exactly mimic the contours and potential problems each mouth presents with greater speed and accuracy. The CEREC also keeps the control in the hands of the Dentist, who was trained specifically to know what to look for and how to correct the issues that brought you to his office in the first place. Instead of needing to give a detailed communication that could be misunderstood by a lab technician, the Dentist can assess, diagnose, and correct the problem without the dilemma of transmitting his/her vision to another individual who will try to make the restoration. Don’t get me wrong, our labs amazing, and are also at the very front edge of technological dentistry, and when we do need to involve them, they are using digital aids as well and creating awesome results. However, a middle-man always increases the chances of an error. Another massive benefit of the CEREC platform is the ability to correct color and shape issues by simply using a different block of porcelain. If something looks a little off, the Dentist can very easily re-mill or re-design the restoration to more appropriately mimic the surrounding teeth so that both parties are happy with the intended outcome.
The CEREC platform has been around and continually innovating for over 30 years, but there are still many, many offices that continue to use the outdated and inconvenient method of fabricating their crowns and veneers. You might ask, why would any dentist or patient not want a more convenient and ultimately better fitting restorative method? Why would a dentist not want the latest technology if it benefits his patients so much and allows him/her to perform better dentistry at the same time? Most offices who haven’t adopted digital dentistry are doing so primarily to save money. The cost of transitioning over to this new and improved method is fairly significant, and some dentists find the idea of doing something different than what they know, even when that something is a vastly better, are very hesitant and slow to adopt it. But don’t I deserve the very best in my mouth?, you might be asking, and the answer is a resounding YES!!! As a patient, you should be demanding that the most up to date and improved practices are being adopted, and if you find that they aren’t, you should find someone who will.
The dentists at Yellowstone Dental Associates have been using CEREC technology since 2007, and have stayed on the cutting edge of updates, techniques and methods to bring our patients the absolute best that the profession has to offer in strength, esthetics, and convenience. Our goal is to place a restoration that will last 20+ years, so that you can eat, smile and function without worrying about it. Come let us show you how the technology works, and let us show you what it would take to renovate your smile and create a lasting work of art that you’ll be proud to show off around town. We have placed literally thousands of restorations using this amazing technology, and our patients love, Love, LOVE the easier and better way of fixing their teeth. For most of us, it isn’t if we’ll need a crown or veneer in our lifetimes, but when, so when your when arrives, let us show you why the CEREC difference matters.
- Written by Dr. Bradley Sutton, D.D.S.
