Second CEREC Primescan Purchase Expands Cosmetic Dentistry Services

Lakefront Family Dentistry—a luxury dental practice located in Lake Elsinore, CA, recently purchased a second CEREC Primescan machine for the private dental office. The investment allows the practice to expand its cosmetic dentistry efforts, including same-day crowns.

“The purchase of the second Primescan machine is part of an ongoing effort to expand hours and availability for providing 3D CAD/CAM same-day dentistry,” said Dr. Mark Phillipe, DDS. “The CEREC Primescan is one of the most technically advanced intraoral scanners on the market. Having two of them—along with the office’s two CEREC milling machines—allows the practice to better meet the cosmetic dentistry needs of patients.”

The practice has been practicing CEREC dentistry for more almost 20 years. CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. Simply put, the CEREC system allows dentists to create permanent dental restorations—such as crowns, veneers, inlays, and onlays—in a very short amount of time.

The CEREC system is comprised of three major components: a camera/scanner, computer-aided design (CAD) software, and a milling machine. The Primescan is a hand-held camera that scans a patient’s mouth while taking optical impressions of the teeth. When these impressions are fed into the CAD software, a 3D model of the affected tooth is created.

The porcelain veneer or crown can then be designed and shaped by Dr. Phillipe and Dr. Hauser. Once the 3D model is complete, a ceramic block that matches a patient’s teeth color is selected. The milling machine is then used to fabricate the crown, veneers, inlay, or overlay in just a few minutes. The crown or veneer is then polished and then bonded to the tooth using dental adhesive.

“The Primescan processes 1,000,000+ 3D points in seconds,” said Dr. Phillipe. “This means that the 3D model ends up being photorealistic and extremely accurate. As a result, the crowns and veneers produced using the CEREC system fit perfectly the first time. Patients very rarely need any adjustments.”

“What patients love about the Primescan and CEREC dentistry is that it is faster and less invasive than the plastic trays and goop that were previously used to create dental molds,” says Dr. Phillipe. “Patients also love the option to have same-day crowns, which eliminates the need for multiple visits and dealing uncomfortable temporary dental caps for several weeks.”

Another advantage of CEREC crowns and veneers is the ability to match a patient’s tooth shade from a variety of ceramic blocks. Ceramic is the ideal dental material because it expands and contracts like real teeth, which makes them less prone to cracks. CEREC crowns and veneers are also color stable and quite durable, lasting up to 10 years or longer with proper oral care. Another benefit is that ceramic doesn’t contain mercury or toxins.

“By purchasing another Primescan machine and expanding CEREC dentistry capabilities, Lakefront Family Dentistry is able to offer comfortable and convenient cosmetic dentistry to even more residents of Riverside County,” says Dr. Phillipe.