Celebrating 25 Years of CEREC Technology
Celebrating the CEREC 25th Anniversary
I recently returned from Las Vegas where I had the privilege of serving as one of the speakers for the CEREC 25th Anniversary Conference on the “A Day in the Life of a Top Gun CEREC Team”. A standing room only crowd of dental professionals from across the globe attended, and it was truly an honor to be included in those invited to speak at this very special event. The first time a patient was treated by CEREC by Dr. Werner Mormann, the inventor of the CAD/CAM tooth restoration system, was September 24, 1985. I was honored to have my photo taken with this distinguished gentleman, and to share our team’s experiences using this amazing technology to my colleagues.
A CEREC Pioneer
Back in 1998, I was one of the first dentists in the nation to use CEREC, the second in NC, and the first in the Triad. The benefits of this computerized system for crafting custom crowns and implants in the office are myriad. From the very beginning, for me, the most compelling reason to invest in the CEREC system was the convenience it brought our patients. Instead of two visits, (involving a temporary crown that might come off and require a third visit!), the CEREC patient makes one visit to our office. We size, craft, and fit the restoration to a precision level with 10 microns, which exceeds the capabilities of a laboratory-milled tooth. The most current research shows that these restorations last longer than gold, which was ironically, the gold standard for dental restoration in the past!
Photo gallery
In addition to meeting Dr. Mormann, I also was honored to spend time with Dr. Gordon Christensen, the most influential thought leader in dentistry today, and one of the keynote speakers at the meeting. I visited with Dr. Christensen’s wife, Rella Christensen, PhD, of the most esteemed dental researchers in the USA. We are currently working with her on a new CEREC study. I also met athlete Rulon Gardner, the 2000 Olympic Gold Medal Winner in Wrestling.
