New 5th generation CEREC AC

Sirona Dental Systems has kicked off 2009 with a bang, launching it's 5th generation chairside CAD/CAM system, the CEREC AC.

The best kept secret in dentistry was announced by Sirona's Chairman, President and CEO, Jost Fischer on January 6, more than two months ahead of IDS 2009, the traditional launching pad for significant new product releases that begins in Cologne, Germany on March 24.

The new CEREC AC - short for Acquisition Center - will immediately replace the existing CEREC 3 Acquisition Unit and work in conjunction with both the CEREC MC L (Milling Centre Large) and the CEREC MC XL (Milling Center eXtra Large) launched in 2008. According to Sirona, CEREC AC will set new standards of precision in the field of dental CAD/CAM. It offers dentists the ability to acquire whole arches in the shortest possible time (40 seconds) to expand the spectrum of clinical indications and create the basis for efficient collaboration with dental laboratories, without the need for conventional impressions.

"Of course we are very excited to kick off 2009 with one of the most exciting products launched in Sirona's history," said Morne Cheetham, Director of Sirona Dental Systems Australia. "The new CEREC AC is everything the CEREC 3 was and so much more. In brief it will give our customers even greater precision and ease-of-ease."

The cornerstone of the new AC acquisition center is the CEREC Bluecam with its innovative 3D Camera system. Instead of using conventional red laser or infrared light source (longer wave lengths/high distortion), the Bluecam boasts a quantum leap forward with high-performance LEDs which emit blue light (short wavelength/low distortion) resulting in significantly greater precision and accuracy. This ensures optimum fidelity, even at the periphery of the images. On the basis of one or more razor-sharp optical impressions, the new image processing system of the CEREC AC then generates very precise 3D models. Thanks to its automatic image capture system, anti-shake function and extensive depth of field, the CEREC Bluecam can acquire quadrants and whole arches in just a few seconds. This expands the spectrum of indications to include temporary chairside bridges of up to four units. "In combination with the CEREC MC XL milling center and the new CEREC 3D software, the CEREC AC sets new standards in restorative dentistry," Mr Fischer said.

Speed, efficiency and user-friendliness
The blue light emitted by the CEREC Bluecam illuminates the treatment site perfectly. The parallel light beam and the extensive depth of field allow the user to capture inaccessible areas of the oral cavity - areas that are beyond the scope of cameras with divergent light beams. The CEREC AC user does not have to maintain a prescribed clearance. Instead, the clinician positions the Bluecam directly on the tooth with the aid of the CEREC camera support.

The automatic image capture system operates so quickly and efficiently that entire quadrants and arches can be acquired in just a few seconds. This saves valuable time. The user-friendly features of the CEREC AC permit the initial imaging steps prior to the preparation to be delegated to an assistant. This in turn fosters a smooth and efficient workflow in the dental practice.

High precision
The precise acquisition of the preparation and the adjacent teeth is a precondition for perfect CAD/CAM restorations. Augmented by the sophisticated CEREC AC image processing software, the CEREC Bluecam delivers an unparalleled degree of accuracy in comparison with previous optical impression systems.

Camera shake has been virtually eliminated. The built-in shake detection system ensures that the exposure is triggered only when the camera is absolutely still. The CEREC 3D software automatically analyzes each image pixel by pixel. Only the best results are used when stitching together multiple images. This maximizes precision and minimizes data volumes.

Expanded indications
The high precision imaging capabilities of the CEREC AC offer numerous advantages. The images are distortion-free, even at the periphery. As a result the system can stitch together an unlimited number of images and hence compute virtual 3D models of entire quadrants and arches. Irrespective of the specific indication, the dentist can offer the patient the comfort and convenience of an optical impression. The CEREC system caters not only for single tooth restorations but also for fully anatomical temporary bridges with up to four units. These bridges can be designed, milled and incorporated during a single appointment.

Direct link with dental labs
A virtual model of an upper or lower jaw consists of approximately 25 megabytes. These manageable data volumes provide the basis for quick and simple communication with external dental laboratories. Via CEREC Connect, dentists are in a position to offer their patients large and complex restorations without the need for conventional impressions. This also rules out many of the potential errors inherent in conventional impression taking.

Streamlined practice workflow
In response to the constraints on space in many dental practices, Sirona has reduced the footprint of the acquisition center to 36 x 42 centimeters. Due to its low center of gravity, the CEREC AC is easy to transport. Thanks to the built-in uninterruptible power supply (UPS), CEREC AC remains operational for approximately six minutes. This allows the acquisition center to be moved easily from room to room. As soon as the first milling process has been initiated, the dentist can begin taking the next optical impression (subject to the availability of a wireless link with the milling unit). Here as well, CEREC AC streamlines the practice workflow and saves valuable time.

The launch of the 5th generation CEREC AC follows the commercial release of the original CEREC system by Siemens Dental in 1987. CEREC 2 followed in 1994. In 1997, Siemens sold off its dental manufacturing interests to a venture capital firm and Sirona Dental Systems was born. Now the real potential of this unique product line began to be exploited with the CEREC 3 released in year 2000. For the first time, chairside acquisition was separated from milling and sold as two separate units. CEREC inLab followed, now called just inLab, for the laboratory market. Launched in 2003, CEREC 3D was the pivotal fourth generation of the system, introducing powerful 3-dimensional imaging software that would become the norm for all contemporary CAD/CAM systems.

With this latest product launch, Sirona has positioned the CEREC AC as a hub for digital dentistry in the practice and a range of technologies will subsequently be linked to it that will offer more products, features and functionality, based on its digitally acquired impressions as well as other external imaging options. The latter is rumoured to include the ability to use the CEREC MC XL to produce implant surgical guides from images acquired with Sirona's Galileos cone beam imaging system and more.