Many people fear their semi-yearly trips to the dentist. The prospect of a cavity and the dreaded reality of a filling weigh heavily on many minds. Add in the possible need for a crown or veneer to repair damaged teeth, the dental visit quickly goes to the bottom of the to do list.
Thankfully, innovation in dentistry has made tooth restoration easier, more convenient, more accurate and overall less worrisome for patients. Our office has recently installed CEREC® equipment, which provides for on-site creation of natural-looking ceramic fillings – in a single visit. We use a digital camera to take an optical impression of the damaged tooth, design the appropriate restoration using CAD software and mill tooth-colored ceramic on-site in about 10 minutes. There’s no need for a temporary and return visit. From tooth preparation to placement and bonding, a patient can have his or her smile restored in less than an hour.
While patients are most interested in the attractive quality of the final result and the time-saving approach, health professionals laud the conservative treatment plans made possible by CEREC. Advanced bonding techniques and precise restoration design allow me to salvage more of the healthy tooth material, creating a stronger, more natural result.