CEREC Makes Same-Day Dental Restorations Possible
Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic, or CEREC®, has become an important part of our Victoria, TX, dental practice. This technology allows Dr. Rick H. Heard to create same-day restorations such as crowns for patients with missing, broken, or damaged teeth. We use CEREC technology because it is fast, trusted, and produces natural-looking results. For most patients, we can provide the solution you need in just one visit thanks to this innovative technology.
What is CEREC?
CEREC is a computer-aided design and manufacturing unit that allows Dr. Heard to design and create high-quality restorations in a single office visit - a fraction of the amount of time traditionally required.
One of the greatest benefits of CEREC is its versatility. Depending on your needs, Dr. Heard may use CEREC to create:
- Impressions
- Surgical guides for placing dental implants
- Dental implant abutments (devices that connect implants to restorations)
- Same day dental implants (full-arch replacements)
- Same-day crowns
Dr. Heard has received extensive training in how to use the CEREC unit to provide his patients with outstanding results.
The Process
In most cases, we are able to complete your entire treatment with CEREC in a single visit.
Preparation
If you have a damaged or badly decayed tooth, we will treat and prepare your tooth so that the remaining tissue is healthy and a crown can fit over it.
Scanning
Dr. Heard will then scan the inside of your mouth using the CEREC scanning wand. This process is more comfortable than the traditional process of obtaining putty-based impressions.
Designing
Using your scans, Dr. Heard can create a 3-D model of your smile. We can use this model to plan your treatment or simply design a same-day crown or other restoration. Using his advanced training, Dr. Heard can make adjustments to the design to ensure that the restoration contributes to a balanced and comfortable bite.
Manufacturing
The CEREC machine is equipped with its own milling tools. Your design will be transferred directly to the CEREC device, which carves the restoration from a single block of porcelain.
For the right candidate, this technology allows us to send you home with a fully restored smile in one day.
Benefits of Using CEREC
CEREC provides our patients with several important benefits:
Greater Comfort
Rather than using messy putty impressions, CEREC impressions are taken using laser technology. When scanning your smile, we will use a wand to quickly navigate the inside of your mouth. This is especially helpful for patients with a sensitive gag reflex.
Convenience
With CEREC, Dr. Heard can send you home with a permanent restoration rather than having to send you home with a missing tooth or a temporary restoration.
Thanks to this technology, you don't have to worry about returning to our office to complete your treatment at a time that will require you to miss work or other obligations.
Excellent Aesthetics
When designing your restoration, we will select a shade of porcelain that closely matches the shade of your surrounding teeth. Porcelain has extremely lifelike qualities that closely match the shine and texture of natural teeth. After permanently cementing the restoration in place, Dr. Heard will also lightly buff the surface of your crown and make any other adjustments necessary to achieve a proper fit and feel.
Experience This Technology Firsthand
The possibilities with CEREC are virtually endless. For the right candidate, this technology allows us to send you home with a fully restored smile in one day. To experience CEREC and our other office technologies firsthand, schedule a visit at Gulf Coast Periodontics by calling us at (361) 573-1014 or requesting an appointment online.
