Saving Time With CEREC!
How teeth restorations at The Dental Centre Bedford save you additional trips for treatment
Even patients who are generally unperturbed about their dental visits would probably prefer to spend as little time there as possible. It’s not that we don’t offer a friendly service at our own practice; indeed we do, but most of us can probably think of things we would rather be doing than having our teeth examined. We also know that some of you travel a little distance to attend our Bedford dental clinic, so any reduction in the number of visits that you need can only be something to be welcomed.
Naturally, our first priority is to ensure that you receive any treatment that you might need in a safe and efficient manner, not rushing treatment simply to get it done quickly. However we are also aware that people have other things going on in their lives so we like to do what we can to minimise the amount of time that you spend here. This starts with making sure that we are efficient. This doesn’t only mean our clinical team but our administrative staff too, making sure that bookings are made efficiently and, as far as possible, that you don’t have to wait too long once you arrive here.
Two appointments
One thing that can frustrate patients is when they need to wait for a week or more for a treatment to be completed. For example, most dental clinics require two appointments when a crown needs to be fitted. Usually this consists of two appointments; the first to prepare the tooth and take impressions to send to the laboratory and a second one a week or so later, to fit the crown once it has arrived. This is obviously not ideal and the good news for patients of this practice is that you won’t have to wait for this if you have your treatment carried out here.
CEREC
The way that we avoid needing to see you for a second visit when you need a restoration such as a crown, bridge or veneer is through the use of the CEREC system that we have at our Bedford dental practice. CEREC, or Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEramic REConstruction, to give it its full name, enables us to produce crowns or veneers and then fit them, all in just one visit.
The initial part of the procedure is similar in that we will first of all shape the tooth so that the crown or veneer can be fitted securely. Instead of taking traditional impressions though, something that some patients find an unpleasant if painless experience, we take them digitally, avoiding the ‘messy’ putty that is usually used. This information is then fed into the CEREC system where a single block of porcelain will then be milled into the desired restoration. This process is actually quite fascinating to watch and we recommend that you take a look at the process in action in the short video on the CEREC information page of our website.
This whole process takes just one hour during which time you can relax in our waiting room with a book or listen to music (with headphones of course). You are also free to go for a walk, though please make sure that you are back in plenty of time so that there are no delays.
Once the restoration has been milled, it can then be fitted to your teeth in the usual way, using a strong clinical adhesive.
Advantages of CEREC
The fact that only one visit is required is perhaps the most obvious benefit of having a restoration produced in this way but it is not the only one.
One other inconvenience of traditional two visit methods is that it is necessary to protect the teeth in the week or so between appointments. This usually means having to wear temporary crowns or veneers. These are not usually custom made and may not look as attractive and natural as the final version.
There is also some suggestion that crowns, bridges and veneers that are produced using CEREC may be stronger than those produced at a laboratory although this has not been conclusively proven.
At the Dental Centre Bedford we pride ourselves on using modern technology to improve the patient experience where we feel it is appropriate. CEREC is just one of these. We also have a CBCT scanner which enables us to take more accurate imaging of the bone structure surrounding your teeth where necessary. This would be used, for example, when we are going to place teeth implants as precise positioning is critical to avoid damaging nerves etc.
In addition to the technology, we also have an excellent team of dentists and supporting staff who are here to help you have a healthy mouth and, for those who desire it, a great looking smile. If you would like to find out more about us, or to arrange an initial consultation, please call our friendly reception team on 01234 819868.