What is CEREC technology and why is it the future of dental implantology?

Restorations or implants in a single visit

At Oralitá we are in love with our CEREC system, and so are our patients. Thanks to this new technology, we can offer comfort and speed when solving the common dental problems we see at the dentist. In just one visit to our dental clinic you can have veneers, crowns or dental implants. Incredible, isn’t it?

But what exactly is CEREC technology? If you want to find out about its features, functions and advantages… keep reading!

What is the CEREC system or CAD/CAM system?

CEREC is a fully digital tool that combines the images taken by an intraoral scanner with a CAD/CAM program that generates a 3D design of the tooth to be restored. It also uses a milling machine to create restorations with a perfect design and at incredible speed and precision. This technology and the hands of Doctor Riccuci give us a privileged place among the best dentists in Barcelona, as a dentist and dental clinic of quality and trust. If you have any questions about the process, keep reading about CEREC treatment or book a free first appointment with us and we will explain it to you first-hand.

How does the CEREC system work?

Step 1: intraoral scan

CEREC consists of a computer and a state-of-the-art camera called Primescan. It allows a quick and easy examination of the patient’s teeth and gums, which not only saves us a great deal of time but also spares patients uncomfortable moments and endless waits. The camera scans the mouth with its intraoral scanner and generates a precise 3D working model, in natural colour, of the patient’s whole mouth. This lets us gain in time, in the precision of the prosthetic manufacturing and in the type of material, as we do not use metals but 100% biocompatible materials.

It also automatically designs a final solution on the computer.

Step 2: individual treatment plan

After analysing the complete scan of your mouth, a digital restoration design proposal is generated. This proposal is created according to your individual situation, so factors such as the number of teeth that need replacing, the condition of the jaw and that of the remaining teeth are taken into account.

The advantage of using CEREC software is that we ensure extremely high quality throughout the entire implant process. The proposals it gives the dentist for aesthetic restorations are based on biogeneric calculations. Thanks to its artificial intelligence and automation, the creation process is fast and very precise, as the scanner detects the natural shades and exact shape of the tooth. Thanks to this biostatistical procedure, CEREC generates an initial restoration proposal specific to each patient, based on the teeth scanned.

Step 3: production of the restorations

Once the CEREC proposal has been accepted, we move on to creating the restorations. CEREC has a grinding and milling unit where they are made. The polishing of the restoration design (that is, the pieces) is extremely precise, giving their surfaces incredible quality, with smooth edges and very fine fissures. In addition, thanks to its powerful furnace, it finishes the pieces with perfect glazing and sintering.

Thanks to the speed of this machine, we can create a complete crown in a single session, with no temporary solutions or extra visits. What a technological breakthrough!

Step 4: placing the implants (or cementing the restorations)

Using a surgical technique, we place your dental implants with precision. This oral surgery is painless, mainly because the bone no longer has a nerve, and also because we work with anaesthesia so that we can work on the gum without any sensitivity. It is therefore a procedure without discomfort and with a very manageable recovery.

What treatments does the CEREC system carry out?

This system is used to make caps, crowns, veneers, inlays, prostheses, implant planning and smile design planning (DSD).

What are the advantages of the CEREC system?

Today, crowns (for dental implants) or dental prostheses made with CAD/CAM technology offer a wide range of advantages:

• Tailor-made aesthetics, designed down to the millimetre and perfected for a natural finish. We also use high-quality ceramic that helps achieve a natural result and choose the exact shade.
• Precision in the teeth, which fit with an exact seal, guaranteeing an effective long-term result.
• Speed in making the pieces or restorations, as the process is robotised and creates the pieces in minutes. The patient can have an implant or a prosthesis fitted within hours or in a single visit.
• Permanent and safe, with no need for temporary pieces or uncomfortable moulds.
• Exact planning, thanks to the technological system that allows a design to be created before the result. The patient can see where the implants will be placed and the plan for the entire process online, in outline form.
• Value for money, as it is a permanent solution that, in principle, lasts a lifetime. So, logically, it is an expense that pays for itself over the years. Its value also comes from the points above, both in the result for your oral health and in function and aesthetics.