CAD/CAM restorations

The evolution of restoring a tooth with a crown or its related products such as veneers, inlays and onlays has reached the computer assisted process.  Currently, there is at least a dozen options to restore a tooth if a filling is not sufficient.  The older methods involves taking impressions using a mouthful of gooey material with many potential sources of error and estimation instead of direct measurements; a significant set of problems dentists have been dealing with for a long time.  In addition to having the patient come to the office twice for the service and living with a temporary restoration for two weeks, the dentist would typically spend time correcting and making the restoration fit the patient. 

The latest in technology, eliminates these problems.  It is called computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology and it has been revolutionizing many industries, including dentistry. 

Dr. Derakshani can now complete beautiful restorations like crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers in-office, in only one appointment.

BENEFITS OF COMPUTER-AIDED RESTORATIONS

• Safe and simple procedure
• One appointment
• Advanced technology provides near absolute precision
• No need for temporary restorations
• No unpleasant or messy impressions
• Unlike traditional restorations, no guess work
• Superior results

Our CAD/CAM system allows Dr. Derakshani to replace conventional impression methods with a clean, fast digital scan that is obtained in just a few minutes through a series of 3D photographic images taken in the mouth. Combining this scanned data with our advanced software, we’re able to design a custom, permanent restoration. A milling unit then fabricates your restorative design quickly and conveniently, right in our dental office.

Your final result is a natural-looking restoration of superior strength that perfectly matches the surrounding teeth, making your crown, veneer, or filling virtually undetectable. The elimination of impressions, temporaries, and second appointments enhances the entire dental experience for our patients. As an added bonus, many of our patients love watching their new tooth come to life in the milling unit right in front of their eyes!

The CAD/CAM system we utilize is CEREC, manufactured by Sirona Dental Systems, Germany.

Please feel free to call us at Huntington Beach Phone Number 714-846-2827 for further information on this revolutionary breakthrough.

CEREC Procedure

• Exam and Preparation for CEREC
• Optical Impression
• No Temporaries
• CEREC Acquisition Unit
• CEREC Milling Unit

Let’s face it, very few of us have perfect teeth, free of decay and fillings. You can probably see a filling or two in your own mouth, which do just that — “fill” a cavity, or hole, in your tooth left from the excavation of decayed tooth structure. In many cases, those fillings are made of metal material and can go bad, weaken the tooth, or get additional decay under or around it. In fact, 1.2 billion of these metal fillings will need to be replaced in the next 10 years. CEREC is a method used by thousands of dentists worldwide since 1987 not only to replace these fillings, but also to restore any tooth that is decayed, weakened, broken, etc. to its natural strength and beauty. Better yet, it’s done with all-ceramic materials that are tooth-colored in a single appointment!

Exam and Preparation for CEREC

First, Dr. Derakshani 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 Dr. Derakshani. 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

Then, your dentist takes an Optical Impression of the prepared tooth. Instead of filling a tray with impression “goop” that you must bite into and hold in your mouth until it hardens, your dentist coats the tooth with a non-toxic, tasteless powder. A camera is then used to take a digital picture of your tooth. This whole Optical Impression process takes only a minute or two.

No Temporaries

Next, the CEREC machine helps Dr. Derakshani create the restoration for your tooth. The CEREC 3D software takes the digital picture and converts it into a 3-dimensional virtual model on the computer screen. He or she then uses his or her dental expertise to design the restoration using the CEREC 3D computer program. Within a few minutes, Dr. Derakshani clicks a button, and the restoration design data is sent to a separate milling machine in the office. A ceramic block that matches your tooth shade is placed in the milling machine. About 10 – 20 minutes later, your all-ceramic, tooth-colored restoration is finished and ready to bond in place. Finally, your dentist tries the restoration in your mouth to ensure proper fit and bite. The restoration is then polished and bonded to the prepared tooth. Your tooth is restored with no “temporary” or return trip necessary. All of this is done in a single appointment! Ask us about CEREC today.

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 Acquisition Unit

The CEREC Acquisition Unit is mobile and houses a medical grade computer and the CEREC camera. Your dentist uses the camera to take a digital picture of your prepared tooth. This picture is used instead of a traditional impression. This means no impression tray and material for you to gag on. The computer and CEREC 3D software converts the digital picture to a three-dimensional virtual model of your prepped tooth. Your dentist then designs your restoration right on screen using the software while you wait (and watch!). This software can assist your dentist with designing any single tooth restoration: crowns, inlays (fillings), onlays (partial crowns), and teeth veneers. Once your dentist has designed your restoration (usually about 5 minutes), he or she clicks a button, and the design data is communicated via a wireless radio signal to the CEREC Milling Unit.

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