In the past decade, there has been many great advanced in
the field of Dentistry. Probably the
greatest of these has been implementation of the CAD/CAM technology in the
dental office.
CAD/CAM is a process that utilizes Computer Aided Design
(CAD), and Computer Aided Manufacturing
(CAM) to fabricate many items.
CAD/CAM technology is used in Dentistry to
fabricate dental work such as crowns and bridges.
A crown is a very common restoration in dentistry that is
done when a tooth is broken or damaged or weakened by decay and covers the
tooth completely in an attempt to protect it from further damage.
Before CAD/CAM was available in dentistry, crowns were made
by hand in a dental laboratory with a process that took about two weeks. About three decades ago, dental laboratories
began using CAD/CAM systems to make crowns and now the majority of crowns made
today are made using the CAD/CAM process.
The Cerec CAD/Cam system was developed to allow dentists to
fabricate inlays and crowns for their patients in one visit. It is the oldest and most advanced chairside
CAD/CAM system in the dental industry
today with 28 years of research and development behind it.
Dentists that use the Cerec system in their office are able
to provide a porcelain crown to their patients in one visit instead of
two. In order to fully understand the
benefits, lets compare the conventional crown to the Cerec crown.
For the conventional crown’s first appointment (most
commonly a PFM or porcelain fused to metal crown) the dentist:
1.
Gives an injection to anesthetize the tooth
2.
Prepares the tooth for a crown
3.
Takes an impression with a tray filled with
impression paste
4.
Fabricates a temporary acrylic crown to cover
the prepared tooth
5.
Cements the crown with a temporary cement
6.
Appoints the patient for a second visit in two
weeks
At the second visit the dentist:
1.
Gives an injection to anesthetize the tooth
again
2.
Removes the temporary crown
3.
Tries the crown to verify the fit
4.
Cements the crown
5.
Checks the bite and the crown is done
For the Cerec crown the dentist:
1.
Gives an injection to anesthetize the tooth
2.
Prepares the tooth for a crown
3.
Takes a digital impression of the prepared tooth
and the bite
4.
Uses a computer to design the crown to optimal
specifications
5.
Polishes or glazes crown
6.
Cements the crown, checks the bite and the crown
is done
Some of the most important advantages of the Cerec system
are:
·
Time savings – Eliminates the second appointment
·
Avoids loose temporaries and extra appointments
for recementing temporaries
·
Avoids sensitivity sometimes present while using
temporaries
·
All porcelain crown eliminates the dark margin
seen in PFM crowns at the gumline
·
Crowns are bonded for better marginal seal with
less chance of sensitivity
·
All porcelain crown looks better and more
natural than a PFM crown
·
Extremely precise with a reported accuracy of 50
microns
The only reason this technology is
not present in every dental office is cost.
The initial investment in the necessary equipment is over $100,000.00
and requires additional expenditures in training and maintenance
contracts.
As more companies begin
manufacturing this type of equipment and the price lowers due to
competition, I predict that there will
be present in every dental office in the future.
For now, if you need a good
looking all-porcelain crown done in one day and the West Palm Beach area is
accessible to you, we would be happy to provide this service for you.
Please call our office to reserve
an appointment at Call 561-968-6022
Respectfully yours,
Carlos Boudet, DDS, DICOI
1840 Forest Hill Blvd, Suite 204
West Palm Beach, Florida 33406
Phone: Call 561-968-6022
Carlos Boudet, DDS, DICOI
1840 Forest Hill Blvd, Suite 204
West Palm Beach, Florida 33406
Phone: Call 561-968-6022
Website: http://www.boudetdds.com
Implant Blog: http://www.palm-beach-implants.com
