CEREC
The CEREC Procedure
CEREC® technology lets us restore damaged teeth in just one visit. Using digital scanning and in-office milling, we create custom ceramic crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers that fit naturally and blend seamlessly with your smile.
Benefits of CEREC
- Same-day treatment
- No messy impressions
- Durable, tooth-colored ceramic
- Precise digital fit
- Natural-looking results
- Fewer appointments
Exam and Preparation for CEREC
First, Dr. Lee, Dr. Yoo, Dr. Sul or Dr. Lee examines the tooth and determines the appropriate treatment. It could be a simple filling, or a full crown, depending on how much healthy tooth structure is remaining and the clinical judgment of your Drs. Lee, Yoo, Sul or Lee. Next, he or she administers an anesthetic and prepares your tooth for the restoration, removing decayed and weakened tooth tissue. This preparation is just like he or she would do for many other restorative techniques.
Optical Impression
We use advanced digital scanning technology to create a fast, accurate 3D impression of your prepared tooth—without messy traditional impression materials. The digital scan captures precise details to ensure your custom restoration fits comfortably and looks natural.
Benefits of Digital Impressions
- No messy impression trays
- Fast and comfortable scanning
- Highly accurate digital images
- Better-fitting restorations
- Faster treatment process
What is CEREC? CEREC is an acronym…
- Chairside: The technology is in the dental operatory and used while you are in the chair
- Economical: The procedure is economical for both dentist and patient
- Restorations: The procedure restores your tooth to its natural beauty, function, and strength
- Esthetic: The restorations are metal-free and tooth-colored
- Ceramic: High-strength ceramics are used that are close in composition to your natural tooth structure.
CEREC is an advanced dental restorative system that allows your dentist to restore decayed teeth, place crowns, remove defective amalgam fillings, or place cosmetic veneers in just one appointment. This allows you to have the highest quality, most lifelike dental restorations in just one visit to the dentist…in, out, and on with your busy life.
CEREC Milling Unit
Your dentist or dental assistant selects a ceramic block that matches the shade of the tooth being repaired. He or she then inserts the block into the Milling Unit. The data from the Acquisition Unit is used to direct two diamond-coated burs to carve the block into the indicated shape of the restoration. This process usually takes 8 to 18 minutes depending on the size and type of restoration. After the milling is finished, your dentist polishes the finished filling or crown and bonds it into place.
CEREC® is a registered trademark of Sirona Dental Systems
CEREC Benefits
| CEREC | AMALGAM | COMPOSITE | PORCELAIN FUSED TO METAL | LAB-FABRICATED CERAMIC | |
| SINGLE VISIT | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO |
| NO IMPRESSION MATERIALS | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO |
| NO TEMPORARY | YES | YES | YES | NO | NO |
| METAL FREE | YES | NO | YES | NO | YES |
| LOOKS & FEELS LIKE REAL TEETH | YES | NO | NO | MAYBE | MAYBE |
| ESTHETIC | YES | NO | YES | MAYBE | YES |
| SAVES NATURAL TOOTH STRUCTURE | YES | NO | NO | NO | MAYBE |
| RESTORES TO ORIGINAL STRENGTH | YES | NO | NO | MAYBE | MAYBE |
| PERMANENT SOLUTION | YES | MAYBE | NO | YES | YES |
What is CEREC used for?
CEREC 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.
CEREC Onlay Restorations
CEREC onlays are custom ceramic restorations used to repair teeth with moderate damage while preserving as much healthy tooth structure as possible. Designed and placed in a single visit, they provide a durable, natural-looking alternative to traditional fillings or crowns.
Benefits of CEREC Onlays
- Same-day treatment
- Preserves healthy tooth structure
- Strong, long-lasting ceramic
- Natural tooth-colored appearance
- Restores strength and function
- Precise digital fit
CEREC onlays offer a conservative, durable solution that restores your smile while maintaining the natural beauty and strength of your teeth.
CEREC 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.
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 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.
Explore More Restorative Dentistry Treatments
Repair and rebuild your smile for lasting comfort.
Rebuild damaged or missing teeth for lasting function.
Learn more →Dental CrownsDurable caps that protect and restore weak teeth.
Learn more →Dental BridgesFill the gap from missing teeth with a fixed bridge.
Learn more →Dental FillingsTooth-colored fillings that repair cavities discreetly.
Learn more →Amalgam FillingsStrong, time-tested fillings for back teeth.
Learn more →Inlays & OnlaysLab-crafted restorations for larger decay.
Learn more →Frequently Asked Questions
CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) is advanced dental technology that allows dentists to design, create, and place custom ceramic restorations, such as crowns, in a single visit.
CEREC technology can be used to create dental crowns, inlays, onlays, veneers, and other custom ceramic restorations designed to restore the appearance and function of damaged teeth.
Traditional crowns often require multiple appointments and temporary restorations, while CEREC allows your restoration to be designed, fabricated, and placed during the same appointment.
Most CEREC procedures can be completed in a single visit, typically within a few hours, depending on the complexity of the restoration.
Yes. CEREC restorations are made from high-quality ceramic materials that are strong, durable, and designed to withstand normal chewing forces.
In many cases, no. CEREC uses digital scanning technology to capture detailed images of your teeth, eliminating the need for traditional impression materials.