CEREC is a system for producing dental restorations using computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM). It allows dentists to design and create a variety of restorations in-practice (chairside), in one patient visit and without the need to outsource the process to external service providers. CEREC stands for CEramic REConstruction or Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics.

CEREC is now used in three main fields: prosthetics, orthodontics and implantology. The CEREC workflow is designed for speed, accuracy and convenience, allowing the practice team to create and fit a restoration in just one patient visit. The workflow for a crown typically lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. First, the dentist manually takes a digital impression of the patient’s dentition using an intra-oral scanner to acquire the image data needed to create a 3D digital impression of the prepared area. With the CAD/CAM software the prosthetic design is created and transferred to the milling unit for grinding or milling, depending on the material type. Before placement, the restoration is finalised using a dental furnace.

More information about CEREC can be found at dentsplysirona.com.

CAD/CAM Chairside dentistry Digital workflows in dentistry Cerec Digital dentistry