CEREC & the Dental Lab – What Patients Need to Know

Do you know the importance of a dentist having a good relationship with their lab? Most patients don’t, but these relationships will dramatically impact the quality of your dental care – and the amount of time it takes to repair your smile. Many dentists have started to use CEREC in-office dental restoration systems that allow them to design, craft, and repair smiles with restorations during a single visit without the need for a lab. Many patients are concerned that this could damage the relationship their dentist has with the lab and make treatment plans fall to the end of the lab’s long to do list. This may not be the case. Keep reading to find out more about CEREC and how these systems affect your dentist’s relationship with the dental lab.

Importance of a Good Dentist-Lab Relationship

The relationship your dentist has with the dental lab can impact the amount of time your restoration plan takes, quality of the work, and available restoration materials. Communication is the key to a good dentist-lab relationship. When your dentist works with a dental lab regularly, the technicians at the lab better understand the treatment plans they receive from your dentist. They can quickly and precisely create the perfect restoration without any back and forth with the dental office or confusion. You get a flawless restoration that looks and feels like your healthy, natural smile. CEREC gives your dentist the opportunity to create some restorations like crowns, bridges, and porcelain veneers in the dental office. However, any good dentist will tell you, working with a lab is still important, and CEREC just doesn’t change that. A good dentist will use CEREC when they can and continue to work with their trusted dental lab for more advanced restorations. Most labs say that in-office CEREC systems have done little to affect them. In fact, many labs appreciate dentists completing some of the small restorations. With fewer and fewer labs completing more and more restorations, the labs are typically happy to partner with dentists who also use CEREC.

Choosing Between CEREC & Traditional Restorations

If you need to repair a damaged tooth, you may be asked to consider whether you want to receive a CEREC same day restoration or dental lab crown. Both are good options, but there is no right restoration solution for every patient. A good dentist will be happy to help you make the right decision. However, here are some things to consider:

• CEREC is a good option to repair smiles during a dental emergency. In just one urgent dental care appointment, your smile will be fully repaired.
• For damaged front teeth, CEREC may be a better option as you will have a flawless, natural looking smile right away.
• For back teeth that absorb a greater amount of chewing pressure, a lab crafted restoration may be beneficial. Labs can utilize a greater variety of materials that may create a longer lasting restoration.

Meet Dr. Koenitzer

At the Petaluma dentistry practice of Bob Koenitzer, DDS, we are passionate about helping patients maintain their healthiest smiles. That includes working closely with our trusted dental labs to create personalized treatment plans that exceed our patients’ highest expectations. We also utilize the CEREC same day dentistry system. Please don’t hesitate to ask about our skilled dental lab partner, CEREC restorations, or any of the dentistry services we offer. Call today to find out more or schedule an appointment with our team. We’re here to help whenever patients need us most.