CEREC 3.8 Powered by Biogeneric Digital Impression System

CEREC 3.8 Powered by Biogeneric Digital Impression System

Sirona Dental Systems, LLC

With a single click, CEREC Biogeneric generates patient-specific occlusal surfaces.

Developed by Sirona Dental Systems, CEREC Biogeneric is the first restoration method that metrically analyzes the patient’s individual dentition status as the basis for computing the occlusal morphology. With CEREC Biogeneric, the clinician can create crowns, veneers, inlays and onlays, as well as anatomically sized bridges with up to 4 units in 1 click.

Dental Product Shopper enlisted 14 dentists who are current users of the system to rate and review the CEREC digital impression system. They evaluated both the hardware and software, as well as the system’s impact on practice profitability.

Biogeneric Software

As the heart of the CEREC 3D software, CEREC Biogeneric is very easy to pick up and use. Regardless of the clinician’s previous CAD/CAM experience, the program features are quickly learned and immediately applicable because it uses a single, standard procedure for every type of indication.

An evaluator with 22 years of experience called CEREC a “very predictable system that is fun to use.” In rating the ease of use of the software, 10 evaluators called it excellent, and 4 called it very good for a score of 4.7. The evaluators were also asked to share their opinions on the anatomical accuracy of the occlusal surfaces created by Biogeneric. This feature was rated as excellent by 9 evaluators and very good by 5. One evaluator listed her favorite feature as the “Biogeneric design,” noting that it was “accurate and efficient.” The esthetic quality of the restorations was also rated highly, with CEREC scoring a 4.4 on this individual feature.

The most common complaint the evaluators had was the software’s inability to handle multiple unit design, with 4 listing this as what they would like to see in future editions of the CEREC software. A few other evaluators said they would also like to see “more materials, including porcelain bridges.” One evaluator, who rated all features as excellent, said, “It’s hard to see how it can get better, but I am sure the designers will figure out something new.”

Patient Impact

With the CEREC system, patients can receive an esthetic crown in one visit. It also eliminates the often-uncomfortable impression taking process for the patient, using the CEREC Bluecam to digitally take the impression.

Thirteen of the 14 evaluators rated the Bluecam’s ease of use as excellent; one rated it very good. An evaluator, who rated his overall satisfaction as excellent, said, “The camera is very easy to use, and automatic capture makes the digital impression much easier.” Patient satisfaction and patient convenience scored 4.9 and 5.0, respectively. One evaluator commented, “I love the convenience that it offers the patient. So many of my patients love the fact that they get a beautiful crown in 1 visit with no impressions.” An evaluator from Illinois stated, “I could not imagine going back to conventional impressions and neither could my patients.”

Significance to Practice

Designed to drive down costs and eliminate lab fees, CEREC offers the dentist a significant return on investment over time, according to Sirona.

Regarding the potential for increased revenue and profitability, 11 rated it excellent, and 2 rated it very good. One evaluator commented, “On top of the return on investment and improved dentistry, it makes doing dentistry fun!” Another said, “It has cut my lab bill by 60% and has been the best technology purchase I have ever made.”

Overall Satisfaction

Overall, 13 evaluators called the CEREC system excellent, and 1 called it very good. One evaluator said, ““I think this is one of the best clinical products and practice marketing tools I have in my office,” and another said, “This is a great practice builder.” A third added, “This will be the standard in the future by which everything else is measured.”