How Does a CEREC Machine Work?

The CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) machine is a dental tool used to make customized ceramic dental restorations in one visit, speeding up a process that typically requires sending a mold of a patient’s teeth to a dental laboratory to get a part made, which can take up to a week and requires multiple trips to the dentist.

CEREC machines produce ceramic onlays, inlays and dental crowns with the use of 3D scans, allowing dentists to provide same-day restorations for patients who need crowns or dental implants.

How does a CEREC machine work?

CEREC machines use 3D-imaging software to make a detailed replication of your teeth. The process begins with your dentist taking X-rays and photographs of your mouth with the CEREC machine, which uses the information received to create a 3D model of your mouth. The Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software then highlights the parts of the model that need to be fixed.

Once the 3D model and the areas that need to be restored have been highlighted, the machine will create the restorative piece from a ceramic block. The machine-created piece will then be color-matched to your natural teeth.

The CEREC machine usually completes the process within 20 minutes. While you wait, your dentist will prep you for the restoration placement. When the CEREC machine finishes creating the required part, your dentist will complete the restoration, and when they are done, they will provide you with tips on how to take care of the restoration.

Advantages of CEREC machines

• Saves time: More dentists are having CEREC machines installed in their offices because it saves both them and their patients time — for example, if you go to a dentist’s office to get a dental crown and the dentist does not have a CEREC machine, they will have to take a mold of your teeth and send it to a laboratory to get the crown made, and then the dentist will give you a temporary crown until you come back in when the permanent crown arrives to finish the procedure; basically, having a CEREC machine eliminates the waiting period so you do not have to go back a second time
• Accuracy: The CAD technology used by CEREC machines provides the most accurate replication of your tooth, which means the size and shape of the replica will be almost identical to your real tooth
• Reduces waste: Due to the accuracy of the machine, the replica created by the CEREC machine is very precise, which means it only uses the needed amount of the material used to create the replica, reducing waste

Conclusion

CEREC machines allow dentists to create needed restorative parts in their offices, reducing the amount of time it takes to complete dental procedures. If you have to undergo a dental procedure and want to get it done in one visit, look for a dentist who has a CEREC machine in their office.

Request an appointment here: https://oakstreetfamilydental.com or call Oak Street Family Dental at (925) 301-4289 for an appointment in our Brentwood office.

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