CEREC: The 15-Minute Dental CAD Treatment

CEREC is to dentists as AutoCAD is to engineers. Instead of drawing houses, however, CEREC draws blueprints of teeth.

The Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) streamlines the process of treating various dental problems by furnishing a 3-D impression of a patient's teeth. Using the latest in CAD/CAM technology, fitting crowns and other dental procedures can only take as few as 15 minutes to complete. This is why many dentists call it "CEREC Same-Day Dentistry."

The CEREC procedure can be divided into three phases.

• Scanning– The dentist uses a handheld camera system to probe the patient's teeth. As it progresses, the computer draws up a 3-D image on the screen. It takes at least two minutes to get a full picture.
• Designing– The dentist then designs the proper dental outfit for specific cases using the 3-D image. Although some training is required, the software is designed to allow even a dentist not skilled in CAD/CAM to use it properly in at least two minutes.
• Milling– After finalizing the design in the software, a miller will fabricate a temporary apparatus out of composites automatically. It takes around 11 minutes to finish one.

Meanwhile, the 3-D impression will be sent to the CEREC lab where a more permanent inlay or crown will be made. It may take days or weeks for the finished product to be sent to the dental office to ensure a perfect fit.