CEREC Technology Is Changing The Way That Dentists Restore Teeth

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a “cap” that covers the entire surface of the tooth and is one of the most common procedures performed in dentistry. A dental crown is often the chosen solution because it encases all sides of an affected tooth with a natural-looking and highly durable restoration. Your neighborhood dentist can decide to place a dental crown for many reasons, however, they are very common following a root canal, as they can strengthen and restore a tooth, when a simple dental filling isn’t enough. Dental crowns are also used as dental implant restorations to act as a prosthetic tooth.

What is CEREC?

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic. This advanced system creates beautiful custom dental crowns in just one office visit. CEREC crowns are a vast improvement from the traditional dental crown, in the way that they are made, their fit, and their lifelike appearance.

How Does it Compare to a Traditional Lab Crown Procedure?

Traditional crowns can take anywhere from days to weeks to complete, and typically means a two-week wait period, wearing an uncomfortable temporary crown and undergoing messy impressions to take your crown measurements. 

When you think of getting a dental crown, you might instinctively prepare yourself for a long wait time between tooth preparation and crown placement, and how you will even fit a series of crown procedure appointments into your already packed schedule. 

Thanks to CEREC technology, this uncomfortably long process is a thing of the past. A same-day crown dentist can help you avoid the hassle that traditional dental crowns involve. With CEREC there’s no biting down on a gooey, uncomfortable putty for several minutes, no temporary crown, no wait! Patients can go from a dentist’s chair - back to their life with a fully restored smile - in a matter of just a few hours.

What to Expect During A Same-Day Dental Crown Visit?

• Your experienced dentist will examine your teeth, and if your dentist finds that you do need a crown, your tooth will then be prepped for a dental crown procedure; including removing decay or tissue that is infected.

• Next, an impression of your mouth will be taken digitally with an intraoral camera using CAD/CAM technology. You’ll see the digital model of your teeth right on the computer screen.

• The dentist will use this accurate 3D scan in a computer program to design your same-day crown.

• The software then sends this design to the in-office milling machine, which will then be used to create a precise, naturally-looking dental crown.

• Your dental crown is then created out of porcelain that matches your surrounding teeth.

• Your dentist will check the fit of your new crown on your tooth and make revisions if necessary

• Your new dental crown will then be permanently bonded to your tooth, the area will be cleaned, and the tooth polished to ensure your new same-day crown looks perfect.

Being told that you require a dental crown is not a fun experience for anyone. Whether you’ve broken a tooth, just had a root canal, or need a dental implant restoration for a missing tooth, a CEREC dental crown can make the process quicker, and hassle-free.