CEREC Same-Day Crowns for Richardson Residents

Dr. McDougal & Dr. Richards can provide same-day crowns in many cases

Drs. McDougal and Richards now offer CEREC, which is a computer-aided process allowing them to efficiently construct, produce and insert individual ceramic restorations directly of treatment (chairside) in a single appointment.  Although Dr. McDougal and Richards provide this advanced technology, not all dental restorations are recommended to make in one day.  For this reason we have an in-house ceramist and lab technician to create and customize restorations for every dental indication.

The CEREC instrumentation is based on CAD/CAM technology. The term CAD/CAM refers to the digital workflow of a tooth restoration treatment.  This process entails making a digital impression, constructing the restoration on the computer (computer-aided design), and manufacturing the restoration (computer-aided manufacturing).  During a chairside treatment, the doctors carry out all steps, from digital impressions and computer-based construction of the restoration to the milling process, inside their office.  The dentist uses an intraoral camera to take a photo of the preparation; the opposing software creates a virtual model of the patient’s mouth.  They use this model to construct the tooth restoration on the screen and then forward the finished construction wirelessly to a milling machine.  Depending on the type of restoration, it is then milled out of a color-matched ceramic block in just 6 to 15 minutes using diamond-coated milling units.  The team can then add the finishing touches to the restoration by shading, polishing, and glazing it before cementing or adhesively bonding the restoration to the tooth. 

CEREC technology makes it possible to price and integrate ceramic restorations in a single appointment.  In addition, digital impressions are more comfortable for patients than traditional impressions.  By developing this process, it is possible to reduce the amount of follow-up visits and issues related to temporary restorations.