At Smile32 Family Dentistry in Fremont, Dr. Mona Kaur has received special training in CEREC® technology. Both of our dentists can create ceramic restorations in minutes. This means that many treatments can be completed in just a single visit to our office.
CEREC® is comprised of several computer-assisted design (CAD) tools and a milling machine that creates custom ceramic restorations. Patients benefit from the reduced cost and time of this treatment.
Dr. Mona Kaur uses CEREC® to treat almost anyone needing a ceramic restoration. Exceptions include patients who have a prior history of breaking ceramic devices and those with a deep bite. CEREC® devices are proven to last for over 5 years, but recent research indicates that most CEREC®-created restorations last for more than 10 years.
The CEREC® System is sometimes called a CAD-CAM system. Dr. Mona Kaur has completed advanced training courses using this system. CAD-CAM means Computer Assisted Design and Computer Assisted Milling. The CEREC® system has three major components:
Acquisition device: This device is home to a high-quality camera and a medical grade computer. The function of this unit is to photograph the prepared tooth. Three-dimensional images are created of the tooth on the screen, which the dentist uses to design the perfect ceramic restoration.
Three-dimensional CAD software: This software allows Smile32 Family Dentistry’s specially trained dentists to examine the tooth from every angle. It is the closest possible thing to holding the tooth in the hands and rotating it.
Milling device at Smile32 Family Dentistry: This unit actually manufactures the custom restoration from the specifications entered into the computer. A ceramic block that best resembles the existing tooth color is chosen and placed into the unit. This unit is right inside Smile32 Family Dentistry, so within minutes, the milling device produces the restoration the dentist designed.
The first step in the procedure is to prepare the tooth. Your Smile32 Family Dentistry dentist removes all tooth decay and creates a divergent occlusal axial wall, to make the opening of the tooth wider than the base. Next, an picture is taken by the licensed dental assistant at Smile32 Family Dentistry using a covering of titanium dust. This dust allows the camera to take a highly detailed picture of the tooth. Don’t worry, this dust is safe to ingest and is actually used for to put words or letters on candies! Images are formulated with the CEREC® camera. CEREC® optical imaging utilizes an infrared wavelength.
The image is transposed onto the computer screen. It is here that your Smile32 Family Dentistry dentist is able to view the tooth from every angle and design the final restoration. When the design is complete, it is transmitted to the milling unit. Your dentist chooses a block of ceramic that matches the color of the teeth. This ensures that the restoration will be almost invisible.
Within 15 minutes, the full crown is complete right in our Fremont office! The restoration is made of compressed, rather than laboratory-layered, porcelain. This enhances strength and durability.
Before affixing the restoration to the tooth, Smile32 Family Dentistry dentists will place it on dry to ensure it fits perfectly. It is then polished and affixed to the tooth with dental cement. The procedure is now complete and all without the need for a second visit! The quality of the results is the same as the laboratory-generated restoration, but a great deal of time and money has been saved.
If you have questions or concerns about CEREC®, please ask us during your next visit.
