CEREC® Crowns/Bridges

We are excited to provide our patients in Redcliff, Medicine Hat, Brooks and surrounding Southern Alberta areas with single visit and/or same day crowns.

Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic (CEREC®) has revolutionized dental procedures. Traditionally, when crowns and sometimes bridges were required to restore damaged teeth, multiple procedures, a great deal of waiting time in-between and temporary teeth would be inevitable. CEREC® creates these crowns and sometimes bridge restorations within minutes/hours in the 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 and zirconia (white metal) restorations. CEREC® can benefit almost anyone needing a ceramic restoration. This is of great benefit to nervous patients, and it can also reduce the cost of treatment.

How can CEREC® benefit me?

CEREC® can benefit almost anyone needing a ceramic or zirconia (white metal) bridge, crown, inlay, onlay.  

Additional advantages associated with CEREC® include:

  • No temporary restorations
  • No dental impressions
  • High-quality ceramic products
  • High-quality zirconia (white metal) products
  • Minimal invasiveness
  • Less injections and discomfort
  • Fewer dental visits
  • Cost effectiveness
  • Long lasting restorations
  • Biocompatible solutions

What is the CEREC® system comprised of?

The CEREC® System is sometimes called a CAD-CAM system. CAD-CAM means Computer Assisted Design and Computer Assisted Milling. The CEREC® system has three major components:

CEREC Primescan: This device is home to a high-quality camera and a medical grade computer. The function of this unit is to scan and photograph the prepared tooth, thus eliminating the need for dental impressions. 

CEREC Omnicam: This software allows the dentist to examine the tooth from every angle. It is the closest possible thing to holding the tooth in the hands and rotating it. These three-dimensional images are created of the tooth on the screen, which the dentist uses to design the perfect ceramic restoration.

CEREC MCXL Milling Machine: This unit actually manufactures the custom restoration from the specifications entered into the computer. A ceramic or zirconia (white metal) block that best resembles the existing tooth color is chosen and placed into the unit.  Within minutes, the milling device produces the restoration the dentist designed.

SpeedFire Dental Furnace: CEREC SpeedFire is the smallest and fastest sintering furnace on the market and can sinter a full-contour zirconium oxide crown in approximately 14 minutes*.

 

What does a CEREC® restoration procedure involve?

1. The first step in the procedure is preparing the tooth for the restoration. 

2. Depending on your particular case, the dentist will take photos or a scan of your affected teeth using one of CEREC Primescan®.  These images are transposed onto the computer screen, where the dentist will view the tooth from every angle and design the final restoration. 

3. When the design is complete, it will be transmitted to the milling unit.  

4. The dentist will insert a block of ceramic or zirconia, matching your tooth color, into the milling machine which will then create the full crown, bridge, onlay, or inlay. 

5. The restoration is then placed into the dental furnace.

6. Before affixing the restoration to the tooth, the dentist will perform a dry fit to ensure comfort. 

7. Once a perfect fit is established, the restoration will be polished and affixed to the tooth with dental cement. 

This entire process can take around 1.5 hours.

If you have questions about CEREC® or would like to obtain more information on this innovative technology, please contact our office.

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