A smile is one of our greatest personal assets; it is a reflection of happiness and good health.  Yet many people avoid smiling because they are concerned about the condition of their teeth. Proper dental care is critical to preserving and, when necessary restoring, your unique smile. And now, thanks to recent innovations in dentistry, proper dental care does not have to take away from your regularly scheduled life.

The dental profession is evolving, and so should your experience. New technology helps diagnose problems earlier, allowing Austin Family Dentistry to treat problems sooner and with less invasive techniques.  Our practice offers the latest in comfortable, convenient dentistry with our CEREC^® tooth restoration system.  Using the CEREC^® equipment, we can now complete a color-matched ceramic tooth restoration – filling, crown or veneer – in a single visit. This technology uses biocompatible, tooth-colored material, so your dentition won’t be discolored by silver-colored fillings.  Below is more information on this new technology.

If you would like to try a dentist practicing the newest, patient-focused dentistry, please call our office.  We are anxious to show you the difference dental innovation can make on one of your greatest personal assets, your smile.  If you have any questions or would like to schedule an introductory visit, please give our office a call at 501.851.3262.

Bryan A. Austin, D.D.S.

Turns Out You Have Better Things to do with Your Time 

Technology today is changing our everyday lives. Many people, however, aren’t aware that technology also is impacting dentistry in new and exciting ways. Cutting-edge innovations in dental instruments are requiring less time in the dental chair, causing less discomfort and creating satisfying results. One breakthrough instrument, called CEREC^®, allows dentists to quickly restore damaged teeth with natural-colored ceramic fillings, saving patients time and inconvenience.

What is CEREC^®?

CEREC^® is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. Translated, it means that Austin Family Dentistry can economically restore damaged teeth in a single appointment using a high-quality ceramic material that matches the natural color of your other teeth.

How does the instrument work?           See clinical images.

CEREC^® uses CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) technology, incorporating a camera, computer and milling machine in one instrument.  We use a special camera to take an accurate picture of the damaged tooth. This optical impression is transferred and displayed on a color computer screen, where we use CAD technology to design the restoration.  Then CAM takes over and automatically creates the restoration while the patient waits. Finally, the doctor bonds the new restoration to the surface of the old tooth.  The whole process takes about one hour.

What does this innovation mean for a patient?

A tooth-colored restoration means no more silver fillings discoloring smiles. The filling is natural-looking, compatible with tissue in the mouth, anti-abrasive and plaque-resistant. Austin Family Dentistry no longer needs to create temporaries or take impressions and send them to a lab. Because of this, the traditional second visit has been eliminated.  The CEREC^® has over a decade of clinical research and documentation to support the technology. The restorations have been proven precise, safe and effective.

How can you find out if this is an option for you?

Call Austin Family Dentistry at 501.851.3262.  We will be happy to answer your questions on this new technology.

Clinical Images

Click on images to enlarge