CEREC One-Appointment Restorations
In Dallas, Fort Worth, Garland, Irving, and Plano, Texas
Cosmetic dentistry procedures will not only improve your smile but may also boost your self-confidence. And, with time, come more and more advanced means of providing our patients with the most innovative procedures and treatment options available today to improve your appearance and self-image. CEREC by Sirona Dental Systems is the world's only system for the fabrication of all ceramic dental restorations in just one visit!
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics and is a multi-instrument system that allows cosmetic dentists like Dr. Avant to create and implant custom-fit restorations in a single appointment. The system uses an infrared digital camera, a computer with 3-D imaging software, and a milling unit with diamond blades for quick, precise and detailed construction of restorations.
The CEREC system can produce any permanent ceramic restoration for a single tooth including crowns, onlays, fillings and veneers. Ceramic, unlike metals and alloys, is similar to the natural tooth, so cracking is greatly minimized due to the material's expansion and contraction (at the about the same rate as the natural tooth) during temperature changes while eating and drinking. CEREC also allows for less drilling, fewer injections, less material removed from the damaged tooth, and minimal time commitment.
The Process
The process is very, very simple. First, Dr. Avant will examine your tooth and determine the necessary treatment. After the application of anesthesia, the damaged part of your tooth is removed and a digital photograph is taken. The computer then converts this photo into a 3-D virtual image that allows Dr. Avant to design the restoration that is just right for you. The dimensions of the restoration are sent to a milling machine, which shapes a ceramic block to create the restoration in approximately 4-6 minutes. The last step in the process involves fitting the restoration in your mouth, polished and bonded to your tooth.
Usually, a crown takes two visits: on the first visit, the tooth is prepared by being shaved down, then an impression is taken of your teeth, and the impression is sent to a lab where your crown is made. Meanwhile, you will wear a temporary crown made with some type of plastic material. On your second appointment, the temporary crown is removed and the durable, permanent crown is placed on your tooth.
Advantages of CEREC:
- CEREC crowns are made in just one visit
- There is no need for a temporary crown with CEREC
- There is no metal in CEREC crowns
- Are more aesthetically pleasing due to absence of metal
- CEREC can also be used for fillings
- Are bonded to the tooth which is better than cemented
With CEREC technology, our patients are now given a restoration such as a crown, veneer, onlay or filling that looks and functions exactly like your natural tooth in just one visit! You need a highly skilled and talented cosmetic dentist to produce a natural-looking result.
Dr. Avant is one of only 1% of all dentists in the USA trained to do CEREC crowns.
If you would like to learn more about the one-appointment CEREC difference or any of the other cosmetic surgery procedures we offer our patients in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, please contact Dr. Cliff Avant today to schedule your initial consultation.
