We are proud to offer our Escondido patients the latest in dental technology. CEREC allows our patients to save time by eliminating the need for multiple trips to the dentist. If you live in or around Escondido, CA and are looking for a dental practice that offers same-day crowns, inlays, and onlays, Lifetime Smiles if your one-stop-shop for important dental needs.

Staying up to date on advanced technology is important to provide our patients with the best treatment possible. We have just upgraded to the new CEREC Primescan, the most accurate digital intraoral scanner in the world. Come see what it can do for you and your oral health.

What is CEREC?

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. The advanced technology employs computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). During your restorative treatment, a 3D scanner will take an image of your teeth that will be sent to an in-house milling machine that manufactures restorations from single blocks of ceramic. CEREC has a proven track record and the technology has been continually refined for over 30 years.

What Are the Benefits of CEREC?

CEREC eliminates the need for a second visit, having to get local anesthesia a second time, and wearing an annoying temporary for weeks before getting the final crown. Whether you need a crown, inlay, or onlay, you will have the benefit of having your teeth restored through one visit to at Lifetime Smiles. Traditionally, these restorative procedures required separate trips to the dentist. Life can get busy. Why not enjoy the same quality of care while saving valuable time?

CEREC manufactures restorations from a single block of high-quality ceramic and other materials. The crowns, inlays, and onlays that are manufactured in our office are every bit as strong and durable as the restorations that are made in outside laboratories. CEREC restorations are built to withstand the wear and tear of normal chewing. Our patients can enjoy their crowns, inlays, and onlays for longer than traditional methods because our dentists are able to closely monitor and direct the measuring and manufacturing process. Finally, CEREC ceramics allow our doctors to shade-match your restorations to match the natural color of your teeth.

Treatment Overview

Crowns

Before your crown can be manufactured, your tooth will need to be prepared. This process involves removing part of the natural outer structure of your tooth. Without this step, your custom crown would not have adequate space to fit over your natural tooth. Before your tooth is prepared, local anesthesia will be used to numb your tooth. We also offer sedation dentistry options if you have anxiety or trouble sitting still.  

Once your tooth is prepped, a 3D image of your tooth will be taken. The digital information will be sent to our CEREC machine. During the entire process of treatment and design, patients can enjoy movies or music with individual headphones while relaxing in our heat and massage chairs. Once your crown is ready, one of our doctors will ensure that it is a perfect fit before attaching it with a strong bonding agent.

Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are typically placed following the removal of tooth decay. Once all decay has been removed and your tooth has been thoroughly cleaned, a 3D image of your tooth will be made. Using this image, our CEREC machine will manufacture your restoration. Once the inlay or onlay is ready, one of our doctors will ensure that the pre-molded filling fits snuggly within your tooth. Then, the excavated space will be cleaned, and your new restoration will be attached using a strong bonding agent.

Schedule Your Restorative Treatment Today

Lifetime Smiles is proud to offer the skill and experience of two of Escondido’s best dentists, Dr. Christo Mallakis and Dr. Rabee McDonald. To schedule your consultation for a CEREC dental same day crown, inlay, or onlay, please contact our office online or call (760) 747-1811