CEREC

CEREC Procedure Process

Step 1: Exam and Preparation of the Tooth

First, Dr. Zogby examines the 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 her clinical judgment.

Next, she administers an anesthetic and prepares your tooth for restoration, removing decayed and weakened tooth tissue.

This preparation is just like she would do for many other restorative techniques.

Step 2: Scan the Tooth

Dr. Zogby will then use the CEREC Acquisition Unit, a device that houses a medical-grade computer and the CEREC camera, to take 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, she uses a camera (Omnicam) to scan both arches and your bite.

The camera is then used to take a digital picture of your tooth. This whole Optical Impression process takes only a minute or two.

Step 3: Design the Crown

Dr. Zogby then designs your restoration right on the screen using the Cerec software while you wait (and watch!).

This software assists with designing any single tooth restoration: crowns, inlays (fillings), onlays (partial crowns), and teeth veneers.

Once Dr. Zogby has designed your restoration (usually about 5 minutes), she sends the design data via a wireless radio signal to the CEREC Milling Unit to start the milling process.

Step 4: Mill the Crown

A ceramic block that matches the shade of the tooth being treated is selected.

The block is inserted into the Milling Unit.

The data from the Acquisition Unit is used to direct the two diamond-coated burs to carve the block into the indicated shape of the restoration.

This process usually takes 8 to 18 minutes depending on the size and type of restoration.

Step 6: Stain and Bake Crown

Step 7: Try-in and Deliver

The crown is tried in the mouth to make sure it fits well, and the patient is happy with the esthetics

Step 8: Completion with X-Ray

Once the crown is cemented, a final x-ray is taken to confirm all the cement has been removed.

CEREC Benefits Compared to other Restorative Materials