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A Crowning Achievement in Dental Technology

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th-recordNovember 24, 2004 Machines That go bing!

A crowning achievement in dental technology

By Heather L. Connors,Times Herald-Record

Cut out the middleman.

That’s the philosophy behind a cool little machine that makes full and partial dental crowns, or tooth-shaped caps, right in the dentist’s office.

If you’ve ever been blessed with crowns, you know the standard operating procedure is to have the dentist make dental impressions, which are sent to a lab to create the final product.

What you’re left with while you’re waiting is a temporary crown and the knowledge that another visit to the dentist is coming your way.

With the CEREC 3D system, the dentist can save the patient that two-week wait and second visit, says Dr. Donato Napoletano, a dentist of 16 years, at his office, Donato Dental, in Middletown.

“Everybody goes home with a restoration the same day,” says Napoletano, who got the machine in October and has done about 25 cases so far.

The actual prep part of the process is similar to other dental work. There’s an exam to determine whether a full or partial crown is in order, and any decay is removed from the tooth. And, of course, anesthesia is used.

Then the tooth is coated with an optical powder to aid picture-taking (the same powder used to spell out the “M” on M&M candy), and a powerful camera snaps away.

The CEREC computer converts the digital image to a 3D model.

No dental-impression goop, no biting down.

“The beauty of this is that you have total control to fix any parameter of [the tooth] you need to fix,” Napoletano says as he turns, twists and flips the 3D image on the screen, outlining areas that need to be adjusted as he tweaks the model to his liking. Doppler imaging shows that the tooth’s sides will squeeze neighboring teeth too hard.

Edward Sheskier Jr. of Scotchtown, a patient whose tooth is the object of such scrutiny, looks on with interest.

When Napoletano is satisfied the crown will fit perfectly, he clicks a button and the information that will be used to create the crown is sent to a separate unit.

A little side room in the office is where that tooth-making magic happens.

Tucked away there, the machine, or milling unit, waits for information that was wirelessly sent from the CEREC computer. Not much bigger than a home computer printer – and sounding much like one – the milling device is equipped with two arms, both with drills attached.

The dentist selects the correct size and color of porcelain, attaches the block in-between the arms and lets it go.

The actual crafting of the tooth is like something out of a futuristic movie. The drill arms determine what they’re working with, calibrate themselves and set out on their task, using the information from the model the dentist designed.

One arm grinds the chewing surface, while the other one works on the underside. Specially lubricated water ensures the results are smooth.

About 15 minutes later, you have something that looks like it was plucked right from your mouth. And in Edward’s case, the tooth pops perfectly into place.

Though the process may take longer than if it were done in two visits, it’s worth it, Napoletano says. His confidence in this technology is evident in the $100,000 he spent on the system.

“Everybody’s pressed for time,” Napoletano says. “If they have to be here an extra half-hour, they don’t care as long as they don’t have to come back.”

Published November 24, 2004

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Index of Articles
  • Dental Operating Microscope
    November 2, 2014
  • Using Microscopes to Provide Better Patient Care
    February 23, 2009
  • PerioLase® Gum Surgery
    August 12, 2005
  • A Crowning Achievement in Dental Technology
    November 24, 2004
  • Single-Visit Crowns and Onlays using CEREC 3D
    September 10, 2004
  • Minimally Invasive Dentistry with Lasers and Surgical Microscopes
    July 11, 2004
  • Donato Dental adds Laser Periodontal Therapy to Practice
    May 10, 2004
  • Donato Dental incorporates Microscopic Dentistry to Practice
    April 26, 2004
  • Who Needs Anesthesia?
    March 3, 2004
  • Donato Dental adds Laser Microdentistry to Practice
    January 6, 2004
  • Donato Dental Incorporates Digital Radiography to Practice
    March 3, 2003
Donato Napoletano, D.M.D
(845)342-6444
450 East Main Street
Middletown NY 10940

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