Q: I'm a Cerec 3D user and very happy with the system and the restorations it produces. Does it make sense for me to upgrade to the new Cerec AC?
A: First of all, Cerec 3D is still advanced dental technology. And by owning and using this system, you are still ahead of the in-house restoration capability curve of most dentists. The Cerec AC does have some very impressive enhancements, however, that may make an upgrade worth considering at some point.
The biggest buzz about the Cerec AC has been focused on its Bluecam handheld acquisition camera. The optics used in the Bluecam camera are optimized for a higher depth of field and accuracy, and have been coupled with increased computing power. The result: The system displays the most crisp, detailed digital impressions possible, which means more precise 3D digital models.
Here's something else that's really cool: The acquisition camera has a built-in shake control that eliminates movement artifacts, so images are captured without any blurriness or distortion, which are common in other systems. Combine this feature with the autocapture mode that takes the optimum image without the need to flip the foot pedal, and you have an easier, foolproof way to take digital impressions. No more retakes!
I've seen live demos of Cerec AC and this thing is fast -- we're talking half-arch impressions in 40 seconds and full-arch impressions in two minutes. Creating multiunit restorations of the highest aesthetic quality is now a reality for the average dentist. That's why Sirona Dental Systems is promoting Cerec AC as "CAD/CAM for everyone."
If you prefer to send your multiunit work to a lab, Cerec AC is fully integrated with the Cerec Connect digital dental network, which links you to inLab-equipped dental labs across the U.S.
Should you upgrade to Cerec AC? I guess it's a matter of how quick, precise, and hassle-free you want to be. For those who don't own a chairside CAD/CAM system and are interested in taking digital impressions and using the latest CAD/CAM technology to create highly aesthetic restorations in-house -- I'd say now is the time to consider Cerec AC.
Martin Jablow, D.M.D., is a practicing dentist and a self-professed technophile who lectures and blogs on a variety of technologies used in dentistry (dentechblog.blogspot.com). If you have a technology question for Dr. Jablow, e-mail it to us at [email protected].
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