The latest technology in dental science is CEREC. A London SE1 dentist explains what it is

The latest technology in dental science is CEREC. A London SE1 dentist explains what it is

01 / 09 / 2010

CEREC is a system that comes in 3 parts, firstly there is a digital photographic camera, secondly there is a computer program and thirdly there is a milling machine. It is all very compact and sits in the dental surgery. A London SE1 dentist says that this system is all self contained and although it is very technical, it isn`t rocket science as the expression goes. It allows a dental surgeon to custom make a false tooth, bridge, crown or veneer in the surgery while the patient is still in the chair. In the past photos would be sent to an orthodontist for them to make the false piece, this could take weeks if the practice was busy, it also meant the patient taking more time off work. With the CEREC system the false piece is made while the dentist is preparing the tooth or the mouth to accept the piece once made. It can take as little as 30 minutes to complete the whole operation, and it also means the cost is brought down as well as the anguish most of us suffer being in the dentist chair. The pictures are taken first and then scanned into the computer program; this will design the piece and produce a 3D image for the patient and dentist to view. Then using a colour coding the dentist will choose the blank block, this is generally made from porcelain, a clay that is very hard wearing. The blank is then clamped into position on the milling machine and the computer sends instructions for the machine to automatically mill the blank into the required piece.