CERECs Look Like Temporaries

For all the years I’ve used CEREC, I’ve never quite understood how people can realistically say that “CERECs look like temporaries.”   A more descriptive phrase may be, and I give full credit to James Klim for this is:

“CEREC esthetics can be whatever you want it to be!”   James Klim, DDS

So, why in the world are CAD/CAM restorations judged at a different level than porcelain-fused-to-metal esthetics?   PFM’s have always had the patient complaints:  the “black margin” or opaque nature of them.   But, they seem to get a pass when it comes to their level of esthetics.   Can’t PFM’s be whatever you want them to be, too?   🙂

For instance, this was a PFM crown that was placed by someone with good intentions for esthetics and function.  Even a polished (maybe even “temporary-like”) ceramic restoration could potentially have a higher esthetic value to a patient than this.

In this particular case, we were able to blend out the margin and give it a little anatomy and depth, but does it even matter on an upper second molar?   Does it even matter that there is metal showing on the occlusal of the PFM above?   I don’t know, but it is too easy in our profession to be throwing around judgement, I believe, when it comes to esthetics and the materials that are selected.    The method doesn’t really have the say on the final esthetic outcome.  The levels of effort and training do!

 

Many times, when it comes to pursuit of esthetics, we can forget “function.”   After a lot of work to get fancy anatomy, we simply polish it all back for their function!   Function first, and fancy anatomy second!    The great thing about digital dentistry is that we have a unique opportunity to work on function and anatomy simultaneously in an efficient manner.  This of course, can be done chairside or by a lab technician with  CEREC.