Cerec Restorations are a revolutionary kind of porcelain restorations that are made by using a new technology called CAD CAM, or Computerized Assisted Design Computerized Assisted Milled. The tooth restorations begin as a small chunk of solid material, either porcelain or composite. They are milled to form to the fit of the teeth and the bite. The design of a patients bite is obtained from a computer.

The patients tooth has all decay removed from it, and an impression is obtained. The impression is done either by covering the tooth and the area around it with a titanium dust, which creates a white surface, or it can be done by more conventional means, which is using colored impression material that is tasteless. It will be poured into stone and then can be imaged with or without a small coating of titanium dust to help with the imaging. The type of imaging that is used is optical and uses an infrared wavelength. The image is converted into a format that a computer recognizes, and an image appears on a screen for a technician to design the restoration from.

The design of the CEREC restoration must be approved, and then the information from the computer is sent to the milling, or cutting station that will sculpt the restorative material to fit the tooth and its bite. Then, the fit, color, and overall fit is checked with the tooth. The restorative material and the tooth is prepared by performing acid etching, silaning, and bonding. This helps the tooth seem more sticky to adhere with the cement that is being used.

The CEREC restoration is permanently cemented to the tooth. The entire procedure takes only about three hours. With correct hygiene and maintenance, the restorations should last at least 10 years according to dental schools and should have a lifespan of 5 years according to insurance companies.

In addition to crowns and restorations, CEREC technology also is used to make porcelain fillings and some dentists can even create porcelain veneers as well. This requires an incredible amount of skill. Since the Cerec crowns are milled out of a single block, a problem is created because the natural teeth have a natural change in color from the gum line to the biting edge. The technology does exist that can create restorations with color gradations for all teeth that look polished and natural, even for the front teeth. CEREC restorations are the newest technology in cosmetic dentistry.