CEREC® is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic, a non-toxic procedure that offers patients a time-effective option for the creation or replacement of any dental crown, dental bridge and/or dental veneers, with an end goal of restoring the treated tooth to its natural strength and beauty. Temporary dentistry is not required and the procedure can typically be completed in only one visit. Schedule your CEREC® appointment today.

Since 1987, thousands of nationwide dentists have utilized the metal-free, color-matching CEREC® procedure for cosmetic purposes, like dental veneers, and reparative instances, like significant loss of tooth structure. Another use for CEREC® is the replacement of old bridges and any type of dental crown. Older versions of dental veneers, bridges and crowns have been known to weaken and crack after time while CEREC® offers an all-ceramic option that does not expand or contract and preserves the natural tooth.

A Step-By-Step of The CEREC® Procedure

• A diagnosis and anesthetic (reversible loss of sensation) are given.
• Proper removal of existing dental veneers, crowns and/or bridges is made. (Learn more on the dental crown and dental veneers pages.)
• Selected teeth are prepared for receiving.
• An imaging powder is applied to the teeth that are receiving treatment, allowing for accurate image capture.
• The CEREC® CAD/CAM camera captures an infrared image of the teeth. (This step is used instead of uncomfortable trays.)
• The image is then converted into a 3D virtual model.
• The appropriate ceramic block size is selected, with matching tooth color.
• The ceramic block is sent to the milling unit (in-office) that creates the restorative piece from the computerization.
• Any excess milling remnant is removed.
• The restorative piece is fitted before it is bound and any final shaping is made.
• The piece is then steam cleaned and painted with a glaze and selected colors, to match the details of the surrounding teeth.
• The piece is then placed on a firing tray that “bakes” in the glaze/color to the ceramic.
• The natural tooth structure is conditioned and the restorative piece is treated with bonding.
• Lastly, the piece is cemented, the bite is checked and any excess bonding is removed.


CEREC® is a registered trademark of Sirona Dental Systems.