What is CEREC® used for?

Inlay Restoration

Often, patients with amalgam fillings will exhibit amalgam breakdowns and damage to the tooth structure as recurrent decay creates stress fractures on the enamel. Unlike most laboratory-created crowns, CEREC® inlay restorations stabilize the integrity of the tooth. CEREC® materials ensure maximum bond strength and enhance appearance, resulting in your desired smile. CEREC® inlay restorations form a smooth, tooth-colored replacement of dental material lost to cavities. Using ultramodern CAD/CAM technology, CEREC® inlays mimic your tooth’s color and structure exactly.

Onlay Restorations

Silver amalgam restorations regularly result in unsightly crowns and the necessity of replacement over time from recurrent decay. Rather than replace the old amalgam, CEREC® onlays are placed on the tooth to retain the original structure and create a more natural look. Onlays, or partial crowns, are more extensive than inlays, and cover the bumps on the tooth surface. The enamel-like material of CEREC® mimics the appearance and feel of real teeth.  PICTURED BELOW:  Left: a tooth after extensive decay was removed.  Middle:  CEREC onlay design.  Right:  Finished onlay bonded into place.

Crowns

Patients who lose fillings often need replacement crowns, which can take up to three appointments to fill in. CEREC®, however, mirrors the appearance and feel of a normal tooth and only requires one visit to install. Crowns, or tooth-shaped caps placed over teeth, restore the damaged tooth to its original shape, strength, size or appearance. CEREC® crowns preserve a healthy tooth structure while restoring your natural smile.

Implant Restorations

The CEREC system can be used to custom design the abutment and crown which will attach to your dental implant. This gives Dr. Hill complete control of the shape, bite and coloration of the crown and leads to very lifelike and functional results.  Typically there is a one-week turnaround time for CEREC implant crowns.  By arrangement, some implant crowns can be completed the same day.

Multiple Restorations

In the past, patients with multiple failed restorations typically required several appointments to achieve a full restoration. With CEREC®, however, multiple inlays and onlays and crowns can be fabricated, bonded, polished and installed at once. CEREC® technology completes the multiple restorations in one visit, resulting in a beautiful smile in a fraction of the time.

Invisalign 3D imaging

In the past, part of Invisalign record taking meant having impressions taken of your upper and lower teeth.  Trays were filled with soft impression material and placed into your mouth to get a physical imprint of your teeth.  Now with CEREC Ortho software, we can take 3D images of your upper and lower teeth, and upload them digitally to Invisalign.  No more messy impressions, and fast, accurate and direct digital records of your teeth transmitted directly to Invisalign!