How does it work?

A sophisticated camera takes a scan of the tooth and the computer mills a new Ceramic restoration from specially made Bio-Ceramic materials in as little as 5 minutes. This Bio-Ceramic material is the secret of the great success rates. Unlike traditional porcelain, gold, amalgam and plastic restorations, this material mimics the natural tooth with expansion and contraction as well as flexibility so that there is no shock between the restoration and tooth.

What are the advantages of CEREC?

• Much less drilling. Patients get to keep as much of their own tooth as possible
• No need for impressions, no need for temporary fillings and no need to come back for a second appointment
• Great longevity

Most people who have had a bad experience with injections think that needles sting because the skin is pierced, but this is usually not so! Most often the sting was caused because the anaesthetic was fired in too quickly. Obviously it is possible for the dentist to control the speed with a standard syringe, but the idea of the Wand is to take out the ‘human error’. This can be very reassuring for people with previous bad experiences.

What does the Wand look like?

It simply doesn’t look like a syringe! As you can see in the photo, the ‘hardware’ looks similar to a miniature computer tower. On top of the little tower sits a cartridge with local anaesthetic. A tube connects this to a pen-like handpiece (which does not sport a needle). You have to get the sleepy juice in there somehow, but the needle is very tiny. The handpiece device looks just like a ball point pen (pictured left). It is even held like a pen! To start the computer, the dentist uses a foot pedal connected to the computer tower. The computer does the rest. That way, the operator can focus all attention on holding the handpiece in the right position.

What are the advantages?

• Looks non-threatening. Researches have found that the Wand induces less anxiety than any other injection method (Kudo et al, 2001).
• The precise control of flow rate and pressure reliably produces a comfortable injection even in potentially more ‘difficult’ areas like the palate, where the tissue is less elastic.

So why do so few dentists use it?

Cost! It’s much more expensive than using traditional syringes, both for the machine and the disposables.