Get a Flawless Smile with CEREC in One Visit
A beautiful, healthy smile can transform your confidence. But living with damaged, stained, or missing teeth can negatively impact your self-esteem and oral health. Fortunately, our dentists at Holyoke Dental Mall in Holyoke, MA offer advanced CEREC technology to restore your perfect smile in just one visit.
CEREC is revolutionizing dentistry with its cutting-edge digital capabilities. Read on to learn more about CEREC technology and see why you can trust Holyoke Dental Mall for your smile makeover in Holyoke, MA. Dr. Eric Chen and our dental team provide personalized care with the latest dental methods to give you a flawless, confident smile in one appointment.
What Is CEREC Technology?
CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) is an advanced dental technology available at Holyoke Dental Mall in Holyoke, MA. This innovative system uses Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology to create customized ceramic dental restorations right in our dentist’s office.
With CEREC, our dentist can replace old fillings and restore any tooth that is decayed, weakened, or damaged in a single appointment. CEREC allows our patients to receive long-lasting, natural-looking restorations like crowns, veneers, inlays and onlays without temporaries or return visits.
Benefits of CEREC Restorations
CEREC offers many advantages over traditional dental restorations:
- Single visit — No temporary crowns or return appointments are needed
- Natural looking — Match the color and translucency of your natural teeth
- Strong and durable — Metal-free ceramic material is stain and chip resistant
- Preserves tooth structure — Conservative preparation preserves healthy tooth
- Comfortable — No messy dental impressions required
CEREC Restoration Process at Holyoke Dental Mall
Exam Preparation
First, one of our restorative dentists will examine the affected tooth and determine the best treatment plan based on the amount of healthy natural teeth remaining. Treatment options may include a simple filling or a full ceramic crown if more extensive restoration is needed. Next, they’ll administer an anesthetic and prepare your tooth for restoration, removing any decay.
Designing Restoration Using CEREC Acquisition Unit
After completing the preparations, your dentist will take an optical impression of the prepared tooth. The CEREC acquisition unit is mobile and houses a medical-grade computer and the CEREC camera. Instead of the hassle of a traditional impression process, the camera takes a digital picture of your prepared tooth. The computer and CEREC 3D software then convert the picture to a virtual 3D model of your prepped tooth to design your restoration.
This software can assist your dentist with designing any single tooth restoration, including:
- Crowns
- Inlays (fillings)
- Onlays (partial crowns)
- Dental veneers
Once your dentist has designed your restoration, the design data is communicated to the CEREC Milling Unit via a wireless radio signal.
Converting into 3D Using CEREC Milling Unit
The CEREC 3D software takes the digital picture and converts it into a 3D virtual model. The CEREC machine then creates the restoration for your tooth, sending the data to a separate milling machine in the office. We’ll place a ceramic block that matches your tooth shade in the milling machine, using the data from the acquisition to direct two diamond-coated burs that carve the block into the indicated shape of the restoration.
Placing Your Restoration
About 10 to 20 minutes later, your all-ceramic, tooth-colored restoration is finished and ready to bond in place. Your dentist will test the restoration in your mouth to ensure proper fit and bite. We’ll polish it before bonding your dental restoration to the prepared tooth. Your tooth is restored with no “temporary crowns” or return trip necessary, all done in a single appointment!
Dental Restorations Holyoke Mall Dental Can Do With CEREC
In the past, patients with multiple failed restorations would typically require several appointments to achieve a full restoration. With CEREC, however, multiple inlays and onlays can be fabricated, bonded, polished, and installed at once. CEREC technology can complete multiple restorations in one visit, resulting in a beautiful smile in a fraction of the time.
CEREC Inlay Restoration
Patients with metal amalgam fillings often 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 restoration stabilizes the tooth’s integrity. CEREC materials ensure maximum bond strength and the enhanced appearance you want for your smile. These restorations form a smooth, tooth-colored replacement for dental material lost to cavities. Using ultramodern CAD/CAM technology, CEREC inlays mimic your tooth’s exact color and structure.
CEREC Onlay Restoration
Silver amalgam restorations regularly need to be replaced over time due to recurrent decay. Rather than replace the old amalgam, a CEREC onlay restoration is 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 will perfectly mimic the appearance and feel of real teeth.
CEREC Crowns
Patients who lose fillings often need replacement crowns, which can take up to three appointments to complete. CEREC crowns, however, mirror the appearance and feel of a normal tooth and only require one visit to install. Crowns, or tooth-shaped caps placed over teeth, restore the damaged tooth to its original shape, strength, size, and appearance. CEREC crowns preserve the healthy tooth structure while restoring your natural smile.
CEREC Veneers
Teeth repaired with compacted composite materials often break down, resulting in chipped teeth. CEREC veneers can restore the tooth to its original appearance in only one visit. Veneers, thin, tooth-colored porcelain shells, are bonded to the front of the teeth to cover the front surface and enhance their appearance. The veneers produced by CEREC are custom-designed for each tooth to provide an exact match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most patients qualify for CEREC restorations. They can fix several problems, such as:
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Stained or discolored teeth
- Decayed or weakened teeth
- Loose fillings from prior dental work
To find out if you’re eligible for a CEREC restoration, schedule a consultation with your dentist.
With proper oral care and regular dental checkups, CEREC restorations can last over a decade, which is comparable to traditional lab-fabricated restorations. The bonded ceramic material is very strong and stain-resistant when properly maintained.
To care for your CEREC restorations, you should:
- Brush and floss around your CEREC restoration daily to keep the area clean.
- Avoid biting or chewing excessively hard foods which could damage the restoration.
- See your dentist immediately if you notice any problems like sensitivity, discomfort, or loosening so they can examine it.
Your dental insurance should cover some or all of the cost of restorative care with CEREC. The price of your treatment will vary depending on your insurance benefits and the details of the procedure. For an accurate estimate, contact your insurance provider for any questions regarding your specific coverage.
Start Your Smile Restoration Journey Today
Are you ready to show off your smile? Our CEREC technology helps restore your oral health in just one day. Contact our Holyoke office today at (413) 538-7400 to schedule your consultation and start your restoration journey.
You can also fill out an online contact form, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. We’re happy to take new and returning patients from the Holyoke area, including Southampton, South Hadley, and Granby, MA. We look forward to seeing you in the office!
CEREC® is a registered trademark of Sirona Dental Systems