30 years of CEREC: Innovation brings more flexibility and efficiency

With CEREC, Sirona is celebrating the anniversary of a technology that has significantly changed the dental practice and the patient experience. Sirona is still setting trends and new standards with CEREC in its 30th year: CEREC offers remarkable flexibility in the areas of hardware and software, unlocking new clinical possibilities and efficient workflows for the practice.

In addition to the proven CEREC AC cart version, two new versions are now available: the CEREC AF flexible table top version and the CEREC AI which is integrated into the treatment centre. Both new models use the market-leading CEREC Omnicam powder-free colour camera with its very small camera tip allowing for easy scanning even in the distal area.

CEREC Omnicam for efficient workflows

The CEREC AF model consists of the CEREC Omnicam with camera cradle and a PC with a 24" or 19" monitor. The camera can be easily removed from the cradle and be taken from one treatment room to another. Scanning and design processes can be performed in different rooms. If desired, the patient can even follow the design process on the included tablet. CEREC AF is also interesting for practices that already have one CEREC system and want to add more flexibility. Dentists can equip their practice with the AF components (camera, cradle, PC, and monitor) and use the already available CEREC Omnicam from their CEREC AC.

CEREC AI allows dental practitioners to use the CEREC Omnicam directly on the chair: The system consists of a CEREC Omnicam that is integrated into the TENEO treatment center by a separate support arm. This ensures that the CEREC Omnicam is easily accessible even in the 12 o'clock position.

Integrated implantology

With CEREC SW 4.4, Sirona is bringing a new simple and user-friendly software update to the market. The software also includes several new functions that further improve the workflow. As one of the new applications, the CEREC Guide 2 is the first surgical guide that can be produced chairside and cost-effectively right in the practice. The guide is designed based upon the ideal prosthetic and surgical positioning made possible by the patented combination of CEREC intra-oral digital impressions and Sirona's 3D X-ray volume data. After the simple design, the guide is then milled from PMMA on one of the CEREC MC X or CEREC MC XL Premium Package milling units. The guide can be manufactured in less than one hour and requires no models or radiographic guides with reference bodies.

Further optimizations in CEREC SW 4.4 ensure even more accurate results throughout the design process. The new Biojaw algorithm uses the entire scanned area as a reference for the restoration to be created, and generates outstanding initial restoration proposals. Editing by the user is hardly necessary, which means significant time savings. The latest software uses improved algorithms that allow for even smoother surfaces and deeper fissures when grinding feldspathic, glass and silicate ceramics. With the new extra-fine grinding tools of the 4-motor CEREC MC XL Premium Package in particular, designs are milled with more detail and greater precision than ever before.

CEREC enters the field of orthodontics

CEREC can now also be used for digital impressions for orthodontic indications, e.g. clear aligners. Thanks to the highly innovative guided scanning procedure introduced by the new software, precise full-arch digital impressions can be carried out reproducibly, quickly and easily and can therefore be delegated to staff. Following a reliable guided scan using the CEREC Omnicam, the CEREC Ortho software creates a digital model of the entire arch. The data obtained can then be sent for planning the orthodontic treatment and manufacturing the appliances. As a result, it is no longer necessary to create and send a physical model.

A cooperation agreement with Align Technology allows dentists to also use digital impressions for aligner therapy with Invisalign. The CEREC Ortho software provides a direct connection to the Align Doctor's Site. The scan data can be stored in the existing customer portal. For patients and doctors this means treatment begins sooner.