Digital smile in the ASPEN dental lab vs. CAD-CAM in-office system
Time is the most important resource in this age. And more often than not, it can be a deciding factor when it comes to any kind of choice. Today's technology has brought numerous in-office solutions for patients that put more emphasis on shortening the treatment time at the expense of the quality of the final result.
One example is the Cerec in-office system which, despite promising to craft a prosthetic work directly in the office, cannot match the aesthetics, naturalness and durability of a work done in a CAD-CAM dental laboratory under the coordination of a team of specialized ceramists.
The CEREC in-office system works on the basis of software with limited functions, standardized shades and only certain materials for processing. This means that dental crowns made in-office can be obtained by the doctor in a single visit, but they will not have an extended long-term guarantee or a particularly aesthetic appearance.
This is why it is advisable to assess the value of time and quality in terms of aesthetics, durability, comfort, and long-term safety.
Quality vs. speed
With the help of CAD - CAM laboratory technology, under the coordination of a team of specialized ceramists, prosthetic restorations are computer modelled, made by milling, and perfected with the help of the dental technician, who pays attention to quality details.
A prosthetic work made in an ultra-modern CAD-CAM laboratory ensures a result that the patient can enjoy for at least 10-20 years, because it is carefully created from materials that are resistant and biocompatible with the patient's biological support.
If in the dentist's office the doctor is limited to certain materials and colors, in the laboratory, the dental technician can recreate the hardness and strength of a natural tooth in the finest detail.
"I will never choose speed of execution over quality. Quality, which the ASPEN dental laboratory provides me with every time." explains Dr. Cosmin Anițoiu, dentist, specialist in Dental Aesthetics.
Aesthetic vs. short time (to complete)
A tooth rehabilitated in one hour may seem very tempting... But when we talk about personal standards, a prosthetic work (veneer, crown, inlay) should exhibit a high degree of aesthetics and harmonize with our face, rather than offering just “a quick smile.”
According to the AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry), over 60% of patients desire an AESTHETIC and NATURAL smile — one that is well-crafted and indistinguishable to those around them!
The concept of “mirror teeth,” meaning new teeth that look almost identical to natural ones, can DEFINITELY be achieved in a high-performance digital dental laboratory. An experienced ceramist dedicates EXCLUSIVE TIME to your work, reproducing every detail of the natural tooth based on a digital simulation and a set of digital photos of the patient’s teeth.
For this reason, to provide a natural appearance in harmony with the entire face, a prosthetic work (crown, implant, dental veneer) requires the mastery of a dental technician who, with great attention and skill, uses a personalized shade guide and a ceramic layering method to add depth and a natural look to the restoration — often indistinguishable from a natural tooth.
However, in the clinic, the patient cannot select the desired color for the new teeth! This creates a risk that the reconstructed tooth may have a different shade due to the absence of a complete palette of ceramic materials.
To achieve natural perfection, time is required... measured in hours and days, not minutes; in a calm setting, not constrained by another patient’s appointment, as can happen with the process of creating “in-office” prosthetic work!
Thus, for a prosthetic work to have a natural appearance similar to that of a real tooth, dental technicians use up to 20 translucency effects, various colors, different brightness levels — essentially 20 extremely fine layers of ceramic materials, meticulously crafted over at least 2 days of intense work.
Experience vs. short time
Experience and practice often make the difference between failure and success in cosmetic dentistry. Sure, an in-office system may seem easy to use, but before choosing this solution, it is important to do your homework and request a few cases of oral rehabilitation done with the in-office CAD-CAM system by your chosen dentist.
After all, when we talk about health it is important to have the confidence that the specialist we entrust is the best choice for us!
Expectations vs. speed
Yes! Even if the patient chooses the Cerec in-office option, a typical one-hour session in the dentist's office can extend up to 3 hours if the work they are having done is more extensive!
Reorganizing the schedule on the day of the appointment is something patients should consider. In addition, if the new smile differs from their expectations, the patient will return to the office for a new try!
With the work done in a digital laboratory, the patient knows from the first visit that they will get the smile they want in a maximum of 2-3 visits! It may involve more trips to the office, but at the same time, it also lays the foundation for a REAL and TRUSTED relationship with the treating doctor! And what could be better than to participate step by step with your dentist in creating your new smile?
One vs. many
Whether the prosthetic work involves one or more teeth, anterior or posterior teeth, it must retain 3 essential qualities: aesthetics, strength and functionality!
And if the dental reconstruction is more extensive and particularly involves the smile line (front), it is important that the patient makes the right choice from the start! A more extensive and visible prosthetic work needs the vision and skill of a specialist ceramist to be aesthetically and functionally perfect.
Short time vs. social effects
In the office, the doctor must focus all his attention on the medical act. He cares as much for the aesthetics of the smile as for its long-term health! While the ceramist completes the work in the laboratory, in the dentist's office, the doctor carefully deals with all dental problems that can affect the general health of the body!
With the Cerec system, part of the ceramist's work is taken over by the doctor, who divides his time between functional and aesthetic work, which may result more visits to the dentist's office to deal with other dental conditions.
Remember, just as unpleasant tooth aesthetics is often a social inhibitor, so can dental treatment failure become one, which can lead to mistrust and social isolation.
Therefore, whether it's "smile in an hour" or "digital smile in the lab", it is important to get it right the first time! An informed patient is more aware and prepared for any change and understands that whatever the choice is, it is an outcome they will wear on their face for the long term!