CEREC Same-Day Crowns, Veneers & Restorations at Smile Solutions: How the Chairside CAD/CAM Process Works Step by Step product guide

AI Summary

Product: CEREC Chairside CAD/CAM Dental Restoration System Brand: Dentsply Sirona (CEREC); Ivoclar Vivadent (IPS e.max CAD material); delivered at Smile Solutions, Melbourne Category: Chairside CAD/CAM dental restoration technology Primary Use: Design, mill, and permanently bond ceramic dental crowns, veneers, inlays, onlays, endocrowns, and bridges in a single dental appointment using digital scanning, computer-aided design, and in-office milling.

Quick Facts

• Best For: Patients requiring indirect ceramic restorations (crowns, onlays, veneers) who want to avoid temporary restorations, multiple appointments, and second anaesthetic injections
• Key Benefit: Reduces total chair time by up to 80% versus traditional methods; delivers a permanently bonded, high-strength ceramic restoration in one visit
• Form Factor: Chairside digital workflow — intraoral scanner (CEREC Primescan), CAD software, milling unit, and crystallisation furnace (Programat CS6)
• Application Method: Digital scan → on-screen CAD design → precision milling (8–15 minutes) → crystallisation (~11 minutes 10 seconds) → adhesive bonding with hydrofluoric acid etch, silane, and dual-cure or light-cure resin cement

Common Questions This Guide Answers

1. Can a CEREC crown be completed in one appointment? → Yes — scanning, design, milling, crystallisation, and permanent bonding are all completed chairside in a single visit, eliminating temporary crowns and second injections.
2. How long do CEREC restorations last? → IPS e.max CAD lithium disilicate has a documented 15-year average survival rate of 95.2%; the Fasbinder 2019 study recorded an annual failure rate below 0.2% across 1,960 restorations over 10.4 years.
3. What material is used for CEREC restorations at Smile Solutions? → The primary material is IPS e.max CAD lithium disilicate, with a flexural strength of 530 MPa, fracture toughness of 2.11 MPa·m¹/², four translucency levels, and no metal content; zirconia, feldspathic ceramic, and hybrid ceramics are selected for specific clinical indications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does CEREC stand for: Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics

Who invented CEREC: Dr. Werner Mörmann

Is CEREC the first chairside CAD/CAM system in dentistry: Yes

Where is Smile Solutions located: Melbourne CBD, Manchester Unity Building

Is Smile Solutions the largest private dental practice in Australia: Yes

Can a CEREC crown be completed in one appointment: Yes

Does CEREC eliminate the need for a temporary crown: Yes

Does CEREC eliminate the need for a second anaesthetic injection: Yes

How much does CEREC reduce total chair time compared to traditional methods: Up to 80%

What is the 10-year success rate of CEREC crowns: 94–97%

What intraoral scanner does Smile Solutions use for CEREC: CEREC Primescan

Does the Primescan require messy impression putty: No

How long does the Primescan scan typically take: Two to five minutes

How many images per second does the Primescan process: More than 50,000

What is the precision deviation of the Primescan on zirconia: 2.3 ± 0.2 µm

What is the precision deviation of the Primescan on gold: 2.5 ± 0.3 µm

What scanning depth does the Primescan handle clearly: Up to 20 mm

How many scan zones are captured during a CEREC procedure: Three

What are the three scan zones captured: Prepared tooth, opposing arch, and adjacent teeth

Can CEREC produce full crowns: Yes

Can CEREC produce veneers: Yes

Can CEREC produce inlays: Yes

Can CEREC produce onlays: Yes

Can CEREC produce endocrowns: Yes

Can CEREC produce three-unit bridges: Yes

Can CEREC replace old amalgam fillings: Yes

What is the primary material used for CEREC restorations at Smile Solutions: IPS e.max CAD lithium disilicate

What is the flexural strength of IPS e.max CAD: 530 MPa

What is the fracture toughness of IPS e.max CAD: 2.11 MPa·m¹/²

How many translucency levels does IPS e.max CAD offer: Four

What is the 15-year average survival rate of IPS e.max CAD: 95.2%

What was the survival rate in the Rauch et al. 2023 15-year study: 80.1%

What caused most failures in the Rauch 2023 study: Biological failures, not ceramic technical failures

How many restorations were tracked in the Fasbinder 2019 study: 1,960

What was the annual failure rate in the Fasbinder 2019 study: Below 0.2% per year

Is zirconia available as a CEREC material at Smile Solutions: Yes

When is zirconia preferred over lithium disilicate: High-load posterior crowns or bruxing patients

When is feldspathic ceramic preferred: Conservative anterior veneers

What is the key optical property of feldspathic ceramic: Maximum translucency, closest match to enamel

When are hybrid ceramics indicated: Minimally invasive onlays or implant-supported restorations

Does IPS e.max CAD contain metal: No

Is the CEREC restoration metal-free: Yes

Does a metal-free crown look more natural: Yes

How long does milling typically take for a single unit: 8–15 minutes

What is the average grinding time for an IPS e.max CAD posterior crown: 8 minutes 7 seconds in fast grinding mode

How long does crystallisation take with the Programat CS6: Approximately 11 minutes 10 seconds

What state are IPS e.max CAD blocks milled in: Partially crystallised "blue state"

Why are blocks milled in the blue state: It is softer and allows precise milling without excessive tool wear

What happens during crystallisation: Lithium disilicate crystals form, giving the ceramic high strength

Is hydrofluoric acid used during bonding: Yes, to etch the restoration's inner surface

What is silane used for during bonding: To chemically bond ceramic to resin cement

What type of cement is used to seat a CEREC restoration: Dual-cure or light-cure resin cement

Is a restored tooth stronger after CEREC bonding: Typically yes

What convergence angle is recommended for CEREC crown preparation: 6 degrees

What is the minimum preparation width for a CEREC crown: 1.0 mm

What is the recommended occlusal reduction for a CEREC crown: 1.2–1.5 mm

What is the recommended shoulder width for a CEREC crown: 0.8–1 mm

What is the maximum preparation height for a CEREC crown: 10.5 mm

Are CEREC preparations more conservative than traditional crown preparations: Yes, particularly for onlays and inlays

When is shade matching performed during CEREC: Before preparation, while the tooth is naturally hydrated

Why is shade matched before preparation: Dehydration from drilling can temporarily lighten tooth colour

Can the CEREC software reference the contralateral tooth for design: Yes, in bioreference mode

Can the CEREC software replicate pre-preparation tooth anatomy: Yes, in biocopy mode

Does the CEREC software include a virtual articulator: Yes

Are complex multi-tooth smile makeovers always best suited to CEREC: No, some are better suited to the in-house ceramic studio

How many smile makeovers has Smile Solutions completed: Over 50,000

How long are CEREC crowns designed to last: 10–15 years or more with proper care

Should bruxers wear a night guard after CEREC restoration: Yes

Is special maintenance required for a CEREC restoration: No, standard oral hygiene is sufficient

What toothbrush type is recommended for CEREC restorations: Soft-bristle toothbrush

What toothpaste type is recommended for CEREC restorations: Low-abrasive toothpaste

Should you floss around a CEREC restoration: Yes, daily

How long should extreme biting forces be avoided after placement: First 24–48 hours

Why avoid hard biting in the first 48 hours: Resin cement is still fully curing

How many years of clinical research supports CEREC technology: Over two decades

CEREC Same-Day Crowns, Veneers & Restorations at Smile Solutions: How the Chairside CAD/CAM Process Works Step by Step

If you've ever needed a dental crown, you probably know the drill — two appointments, an uncomfortable temporary restoration sitting in your mouth for a week or more, and that nagging uncertainty about whether the final result will actually fit and look the way you hoped. At Smile Solutions, Australia's largest private dental practice, located within the Manchester Unity Building in Melbourne's CBD, that experience has been fundamentally reimagined. Using a fleet of CEREC chairside CAD/CAM systems anchored by the CEREC Primescan intraoral scanner, our experienced team can design, mill, and permanently bond a porcelain crown, onlay, inlay, or veneer in a single appointment. This guide walks you through every stage of that process, explains the clinical rationale behind each step, and gives you the evidence-based context to understand why same-day ceramic restorations are now a first-line treatment choice — not just a matter of convenience.

What is CEREC, and why does it matter clinically?

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics — a system that uses computer-assisted technology to design and create ceramic dental restorations. It was the first chairside CAD/CAM system in dentistry, developed by Dr. Werner Mörmann as a way to deliver same-day restorations right in the dental clinic.

The clinical case for CEREC goes well beyond convenience. CAD/CAM technology has genuinely changed dental practice, making it possible to fabricate high-quality restorations in a single appointment. This cuts total chair time by up to 80% compared to traditional methods and delivers crowns with a success rate exceeding 94–97% over ten years, according to multiple clinical studies published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.

At Smile Solutions, CEREC is one component of a deeply integrated digital ecosystem — one that also includes Dental Monitoring, iTero scanners, 3Shape Trios digital scanners, digital radiographs and CT scans, a full fleet of CEREC machines and intraoral scanners, as well as in-house dental laboratory equipment and a bespoke ceramic studio equipped with 3D printers. Where CEREC fits within that ecosystem — and when it's the right choice versus our in-house ceramic studio — is covered in detail in our comparison guide (see our guide on CEREC vs. Traditional Lab-Made Crowns vs. In-House Laboratory Restorations: Which Dental Restoration Method Is Right for You?).

What restorations can CEREC produce?

The CEREC system can fabricate inlays, onlays, veneers, crowns, three-unit bridges, and custom lithium disilicate implant abutments. In-office software can construct a range of minimally invasive restorations, including veneers, inlays, onlays, crowns, tabletops, endocrowns, and several single-unit restorations.

At Smile Solutions, the CEREC workflow is applied across a broad range of clinical indications:

• Posterior crowns — full-coverage restorations for broken, heavily filled, or root-canal-treated back teeth
• Onlays and inlays — conservative partial-coverage restorations that preserve more natural tooth structure than a full crown
• Anterior and posterior veneers — thin ceramic facings bonded to the front surface of your teeth for aesthetic correction
• Three-unit bridges — fixed restorations spanning a single missing tooth gap (subject to individual case assessment)
• Endocrowns — a monolithic restoration for endodontically treated molars that combines crown and post-core in one milled unit
• Amalgam replacement — CEREC porcelain fillings are a popular holistic dentistry option at Smile Solutions, and a preferred choice for patients who want to replace old silver-coloured fillings with long-lasting, natural-looking white porcelain restorations

Who is a good candidate for CEREC at Smile Solutions?

CEREC suits the majority of patients who need indirect restorations, though candidacy is always confirmed during an initial clinical assessment with your Smile Solutions dentist. Ideal candidates typically present with:

• Moderate-to-large cavities that are too extensive for a direct composite filling but don't require a full crown preparation
• Cracked or fractured teeth where cusp coverage is needed
• Failed or failing existing restorations — large amalgam or composite fillings that are beginning to break down
• Root-canal-treated teeth that require cuspal protection
• Patients with time constraints who can't attend two separate appointments
• Anxiety-sensitive patients for whom eliminating a temporary crown and a second anaesthetic injection makes a genuinely meaningful difference

No more metal or temporary restorations, fewer injections and less drilling — everything from preparation to insertion of your new restoration is completed in a single visit.

Cases that may be better directed to Smile Solutions' in-house ceramic studio — where master ceramists can hand-characterise complex anterior aesthetics — include highly visible, multi-tooth smile makeover cases requiring bespoke shade layering beyond what a single milled block can achieve. This clinical decision-making is covered in depth in our comparison article (see our guide on CEREC vs. Traditional Lab-Made Crowns vs. In-House Laboratory Restorations).

The CEREC chairside process at Smile Solutions: step by step

Step 1 — Clinical assessment and treatment planning

Before any scanning or preparation begins, your Smile Solutions dentist conducts a thorough clinical examination. This includes reviewing your digital radiographs, assessing the extent of damage or decay, evaluating your occlusion (bite), and confirming that CEREC is the most appropriate restoration pathway for your specific tooth.

The treating doctor chooses the case, prepares it, scans it intraorally, uses digital design, selects the materials, mills it, and completes final cementation. Your clinician carefully examines and plans your future restoration before creating the final digital design — ensuring every decision is made with your individual needs in mind.

Shade matching is also performed at this stage, while your tooth is still in its natural, hydrated state — before any preparation or isolation — because dehydration from the drill can temporarily lighten tooth colour and skew the shade selection.

Step 2 — Tooth preparation

Local anaesthesia is administered, and your tooth is prepared to create the geometry required for the CEREC restoration. Unlike traditional crown preparations, CEREC-optimised preparations can often be more conservative — particularly for onlays and inlays — because the adhesive bonding protocol compensates for reduced mechanical retention, preserving more of your natural tooth structure.

For a full crown restoration, preparation parameters are: a height not exceeding 10.5 mm, a minimum width of 1.0 mm, a circular minimal round shoulder of 0.8–1 mm, a 6° convergence angle, and a 1.2–1.5 mm occlusal reduction.

For partial coverage restorations (inlays and onlays), preparation is even more conservative, removing only the compromised tooth structure. This tissue-preservation philosophy is central to the holistic approach at Smile Solutions.

Step 3 — Digital impression with the CEREC Primescan

Once preparation is complete, the traditional impression tray and putty are replaced entirely by the CEREC Primescan intraoral scanner. The Primescan captures a precise, three-dimensional image in real-life colour — doing away completely with the need for messy impressions.

The Primescan's technical performance is well-documented in peer-reviewed literature. Independent research confirms its precision advantage: the Primescan group exhibited notably low precision deviation values (Primescan-Zirconia: 2.3 ± 0.2 µm; Primescan-Gold: 2.5 ± 0.3 µm) compared to older scanner generations.

The Primescan uses Smart Pixel Sensor technology and dynamic depth scanning, providing clear imaging in areas with depths of up to 20 mm, processing more than 50,000 images per second.

An optical impression is taken by the scanning device to capture complete detail of your teeth and supporting soft-tissue structures. The intraorally scanned images are visualised on the computer monitor in real time and can be processed interactively by your clinician.

Three scan zones are captured: the prepared tooth, the opposing arch (to record your bite), and the adjacent teeth (to establish correct contact points). The entire scan typically takes just two to five minutes and is completely comfortable — no gagging, no setting time, no distortion from removal.

(For a deeper look at how the Primescan integrates with Smile Solutions' broader scanning fleet — including the iTero and 3Shape Trios — see our guide on Intraoral Scanning & 3D Printing at Smile Solutions.)

Step 4 — CAD design on screen

With your three-dimensional digital model rendered on screen, the CEREC software guides your clinician through designing your restoration. The software allows the clinician to mark the margins, digitally design virtual wax-up proposals, adjust occlusal contacts, and calibrate proximal contact areas. The latest upgrade also includes automatic occlusal adjustment, a virtual articulator, and digital smile design tools.

The software offers three design options: bioreference, biocopy, or biogeneric. In bioreference mode, the design draws on the anatomical features of your corresponding contralateral tooth, if present. In biocopy mode, it reproduces the tooth's anatomy before preparation, keeping your aesthetics and function unchanged.

Your dentist reviews and refines the proposed design — adjusting occlusal anatomy, contact points, and emergence profile — before approving it for milling. This on-screen design phase is one of the most clinically significant advantages of chairside CAD/CAM: the treating dentist, who knows your bite and your aesthetic goals, designs your restoration directly — rather than a remote laboratory technician working from a plaster model.

Step 5 — Milling

The approved digital design is sent wirelessly to the milling unit. At Smile Solutions, the milling stage uses precision CAM equipment capable of producing restorations with the tight tolerances that clinical fit demands.

The architectural data generated by CAD software are placed onto a milling unit and transformed into milling instructions for CAM processing.

Milling times vary by restoration type and material but are typically completed within 8–15 minutes for a single unit. For IPS e.max CAD (lithium disilicate) — the most commonly selected material at Smile Solutions — the average grinding time for posterior crowns is 8 minutes 7 seconds in fast grinding mode, followed by crystallisation in approximately 11 minutes 10 seconds.

While milling is underway, you're welcome to relax, take a short break, or enjoy a coffee — your tooth is already prepared and temporarily sealed, so there's no clinical urgency during this phase.

Step 6 — Crystallisation and finishing

IPS e.max CAD blocks are milled in a partially crystallised "blue state" — a softer, machinable phase of lithium disilicate that allows precise milling without excessive tool wear. This intermediate phase enables fast machining with CAD/CAM systems. After milling, the restorations are fired in the crystallisation furnace, during which lithium disilicate crystals form and give the ceramic its high strength.

When using the Programat CS6, crystallisation of IPS e.max CAD restorations completes in just 11 minutes 10 seconds, making single-visit dentistry with high-strength lithium disilicate genuinely practical.

Following crystallisation, your restoration is polished or glazed to achieve the final surface texture and lustre that closely mimics natural enamel.

Step 7 — Try-in and fit check

The milled and crystallised restoration is placed on your prepared tooth — while you're still numb — for a clinical try-in. Your dentist checks:

• Marginal fit — the seal at the preparation margin
• Proximal contacts — the tightness of contact with adjacent teeth
• Occlusion — the bite relationship in centric occlusion and lateral excursions
• Aesthetics — shade integration with your neighbouring teeth

Minor adjustments can be made chairside using fine diamond burs before final bonding. Chairside CAD/CAM restorations are consistently shown to be superior to restorations made by conventional laboratory procedures — a finding that holds across multiple systematic reviews of the clinical literature.

Step 8 — Adhesive bonding

Once fit is confirmed, your restoration is permanently bonded using a multi-step adhesive cementation protocol. For lithium disilicate restorations, this typically involves:

1. Etching the intaglio (inner) surface of the restoration with hydrofluoric acid to create a micro-retentive surface
2. Applying a silane coupling agent to chemically bond the ceramic to the resin cement
3. Conditioning the prepared tooth surface
4. Seating the restoration with dual-cure or light-cure resin cement
5. Removing excess cement and verifying the final occlusion

IPS e.max CAD has a flexural strength of 530 MPa and a fracture toughness of 2.11 MPa·m¹/². Combined with adhesive bonding, your restored tooth is typically stronger than it was before restoration.

Material choices for CEREC restorations

CAD/CAM chairside ceramic materials fall into four groups based on composition: feldspathic ceramics and leucite-reinforced ceramic blocks; lithium disilicate and zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate blocks; zirconium oxide; and hybrid ceramics or resin matrix ceramic materials, as well as acrylic resin.

At Smile Solutions, material selection for your CEREC restoration is guided by clinical indication:

Lithium disilicate glass ceramic (IPS e.max CAD) is indicated for anterior or posterior crowns, implant crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers.

Because it has no metal core, a CEREC crown looks more natural and blends more seamlessly with surrounding teeth. This metal-free approach also aligns with the holistic philosophy at Smile Solutions, where biocompatible materials that are not toxic and do not interfere with normal bodily functions are prioritised — with the main emphasis on non-toxic materials such as porcelain to protect your teeth and support your overall wellbeing.

Long-term clinical performance: what the evidence shows

The question patients ask most often is how long a CEREC restoration will actually last — and the peer-reviewed evidence is genuinely reassuring.

IPS e.max CAD shows an average survival rate of 95.2% over up to 15 years. A 15-year clinical study published in Clinical Oral Investigations (Rauch et al., 2023) evaluated chairside-fabricated lithium disilicate crowns and found a mean observation period of 15.2 years, with a survival rate of 80.1% — a result the authors noted was influenced by biological failures (periodontal complications) rather than ceramic technical failures, with colour, tooth, and crown integrity remaining stable throughout the follow-up period.

For pressed lithium disilicate, a large-scale study published in the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry (Fasbinder, 2019) followed 1,960 complete-coverage restorations across 556 patients and found an overall failure rate below 0.2% per year across the 10.4-year study period.

CEREC technology is supported by over two decades of clinical research — a body of evidence that continues to grow as long-term data accumulates.

Post-placement care for your CEREC restoration

A well-placed CEREC restoration requires no special maintenance beyond your standard oral hygiene routine. The following guidelines will help support long-term success:

• Floss daily — particularly at the proximal contacts of your restoration, where marginal integrity is most vulnerable to plaque accumulation
• Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and low-abrasive toothpaste to avoid micro-scratching the ceramic glaze surface
• Wear a night guard if you brux — lithium disilicate is strong, but parafunctional grinding generates forces that can fracture any ceramic restoration over time
• Avoid extreme biting forces in the first 24–48 hours while the resin cement fully cures
• Attend regular check-ups — your dentist will assess marginal integrity, occlusion, and the overall condition of your restoration at each recall visit

CEREC crowns are designed to last 10–15 years or more with proper care; maintaining good oral hygiene, avoiding hard or sticky foods, and attending regular dental check-ups will help maximise their longevity.

If you have any concerns about your restoration after placement, our team at Smile Solutions is always available — simply get in touch to book a review appointment.

Key takeaways

• CEREC at Smile Solutions is a fully integrated chairside workflow: from CEREC Primescan digital impression through real-time CAD design, precision milling, crystallisation, and adhesive bonding — all completed in a single appointment, eliminating temporary restorations and second injections.
• The CEREC Primescan delivers clinically validated accuracy: independent peer-reviewed research consistently ranks the Primescan among the highest-precision intraoral scanners available, with precision deviations as low as 2.3 µm — accuracy that translates directly into restoration fit and long-term longevity.
• IPS e.max CAD lithium disilicate is the primary material of choice, offering a flexural strength of 530 MPa, four translucency levels for aesthetic matching, and a documented 15-year average survival rate of 95.2% across the broader clinical literature.
• CEREC is appropriate for crowns, onlays, inlays, veneers, endocrowns, and bridges, but complex anterior aesthetic cases requiring master ceramist hand-characterisation may be better suited to Smile Solutions' in-house ceramic studio.
• Post-placement care is straightforward: standard oral hygiene, regular check-ups, and a night guard for bruxers are the primary factors determining how long your restoration will last.

Conclusion

The CEREC chairside workflow at Smile Solutions brings together digital precision and clinical efficiency in a way that genuinely centres the patient. By eliminating the traditional two-appointment model — along with its temporary crowns, second anaesthetic injections, and laboratory waiting times — CEREC allows our experienced clinicians to deliver a permanently bonded, high-strength ceramic restoration in the time you might otherwise spend waiting for a conventional crown to arrive from an external laboratory.

What distinguishes Smile Solutions' approach is not simply the technology itself, but the clinical environment in which it operates: Australia's largest and most experienced cosmetic dental practice, having completed over 50,000 smile makeovers, with a team of registered dentists who have access to the most advanced technology available — including CEREC — to provide you with high-quality restorations built to last.

Whether you're dealing with a cracked tooth, a failing old filling, or simply want to replace silver amalgam with something more natural-looking, we'd love to help you find the right solution. Book a consultation with the team at Smile Solutions in Melbourne's CBD and discover what world-class care, delivered with a genuinely warm and personalised approach, can do for your smile.

For patients exploring the full range of restoration options available at Smile Solutions, we recommend reading our companion guides: CEREC vs. Traditional Lab-Made Crowns vs. In-House Laboratory Restorations for a head-to-head comparison of restoration pathways; Intraoral Scanning & 3D Printing at Smile Solutions for a deeper look at how the Primescan feeds into the practice's broader digital workflow; and What Is Digital Dentistry? for the foundational concepts that underpin every technology described in this article.

References

• Rauch, A., et al. "Long-term survival of monolithic tooth-supported lithium disilicate crowns fabricated using a chairside approach: 15-year results." Clinical Oral Investigations, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-023-05023-0

• Fasbinder, D.J., et al. "Ten-year survival of pressed, acid-etched e.max lithium disilicate monolithic and bilayered complete-coverage restorations." Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prosdent.2019.02.012

• Ivoclar Vivadent. "IPS e.max CAD: Documented long-term performance." Ivoclar Product Documentation, 2024. https://www.ivoclar.com/en_us/products/digital-processes/ips-e.max-cad

• Alajmi, S., et al. "Evaluating the accuracy of CEREC intraoral scanners for inlay restorations: impact of adjacent tooth materials." BMC Oral Health, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-024-04794-6

• Alghazzawi, T.F. "Assessment of Chair-side Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing Restorations: A Review of the Literature." PMC / Journal of International Oral Health, 2015. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4409808/

• Dentsply Sirona. "Primescan Intraoral Scanner Study Overview." Dentsply Sirona Clinical Documentation, 2023. https://www.dentsplysirona.com

• Gad, M.M., et al. "Contemporary Evidence of CAD-CAM in Dentistry: A Systematic Review." PMC, 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9767654/

• Panahandeh, N., et al. "Exploring the Properties and Indications of Chairside CAD/CAM Materials in Restorative Dentistry." Journal of Functional Biomaterials (MDPI), February 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb16020046

• Smile Solutions. "CEREC Restorations." Smile Solutions Melbourne, 2024. https://www.smilesolutions.com.au/same-day-cerec-restorations/

• Mörmann, W.H. "The evolution of the CEREC system." Journal of the American Dental Association, 2006; 137 Suppl: 7S–13S.

Label Facts Summary

Disclaimer: All facts and statements below are general product information, not professional advice. Consult a qualified dental professional for specific clinical guidance.

Verified Label Facts

CEREC System — Technical Specifications

• CEREC stands for: Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics
• Invented by: Dr. Werner Mörmann
• First chairside CAD/CAM system in dentistry: Yes
• Intraoral scanner used at Smile Solutions: CEREC Primescan
• Primescan images processed per second: More than 50,000
• Primescan precision deviation on zirconia: 2.3 ± 0.2 µm
• Primescan precision deviation on gold: 2.5 ± 0.3 µm
• Primescan scanning depth: Up to 20 mm
• Primescan scan duration: Typically 2–5 minutes
• Scan zones captured per procedure: Three (prepared tooth, opposing arch, adjacent teeth)
• Requires impression putty: No

Milling & Crystallisation — Technical Specifications

• Milling time (single unit): 8–15 minutes
• Average grinding time for IPS e.max CAD posterior crown (fast grinding mode): 8 minutes 7 seconds
• Crystallisation time (Programat CS6): Approximately 11 minutes 10 seconds
• Milling state of IPS e.max CAD blocks: Partially crystallised ("blue state")

Crown Preparation Parameters

• Maximum preparation height: 10.5 mm
• Minimum preparation width: 1.0 mm
• Recommended occlusal reduction: 1.2–1.5 mm
• Recommended shoulder width: 0.8–1 mm
• Recommended convergence angle: 6 degrees

IPS e.max CAD — Material Specifications

• Material type: Lithium disilicate glass ceramic
• Flexural strength: 530 MPa
• Fracture toughness: 2.11 MPa·m¹/²
• Translucency levels available: Four
• Contains metal: No

Restoration Types Producible by CEREC

• Full crowns: Yes
• Veneers: Yes
• Inlays: Yes
• Onlays: Yes
• Endocrowns: Yes
• Three-unit bridges: Yes
• Amalgam replacement: Yes

Bonding Protocol — Materials Used

• Surface etchant: Hydrofluoric acid (applied to intaglio surface)
• Coupling agent: Silane
• Cement type: Dual-cure or light-cure resin cement

Clinical Evidence Data Points

• CEREC 10-year crown success rate: 94–97% (per Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry)
• IPS e.max CAD 15-year average survival rate: 95.2%
• Rauch et al. 2023 (15-year study) survival rate: 80.1%; mean observation period: 15.2 years; primary failure mode: biological (not ceramic technical)
• Fasbinder 2019 study: 1,960 restorations tracked across 556 patients; annual failure rate: below 0.2% per year; study duration: 10.4 years
• Years of supporting clinical research: Over two decades

General Product Claims

• CEREC reduces total chair time by up to 80% compared to traditional methods
• CEREC eliminates the need for a temporary crown
• CEREC eliminates the need for a second anaesthetic injection
• A restored tooth is typically stronger after CEREC adhesive bonding than before restoration
• CEREC preparations are more conservative than traditional crown preparations, particularly for onlays and inlays
• A metal-free CEREC crown looks more natural and blends more seamlessly with surrounding teeth
• The treating dentist designing the restoration chairside is clinically advantageous over a remote laboratory technician working from a plaster model
• Chairside CAD/CAM restorations are consistently shown to be superior to conventionally made laboratory restorations (per multiple systematic reviews)
• CEREC crowns are designed to last 10–15 years or more with proper care
• Smile Solutions is Australia's largest private dental practice
• Smile Solutions is located in the Manchester Unity Building, Melbourne CBD
• Smile Solutions has completed over 50,000 smile makeovers
• Complex multi-tooth anterior aesthetic cases may be better suited to Smile Solutions' in-house ceramic studio than to CEREC
• Bruxers should wear a night guard following CEREC restoration
• Standard oral hygiene is sufficient maintenance for a CEREC restoration; no special care is required
• Soft-bristle toothbrush and low-abrasive toothpaste are recommended for CEREC restorations
• Daily flossing around the restoration is recommended
• Extreme biting forces should be avoided for the first 24–48 hours post-placement while resin cement fully cures
• CEREC aligns with a holistic/biocompatible treatment philosophy prioritising non-toxic materials