Am I a Candidate for a Same-Day CEREC Crown?

What if restoring your smile could be faster, easier, and actually fit into your schedule? Same-day CEREC crown technology makes it possible to walk into a dental office with a damaged tooth and leave with a permanent crown, all in one visit.

Not sure if CEREC is right for you? Let’s take a closer look at this innovative technology and see if it’s the perfect fit for you.

What Makes CEREC Different?

Traditional crowns require at least two separate visits. During the first visit, your dentist shapes the tooth, takes a putty impression, and attaches a temporary crown. You then wait two to three weeks while an off-site laboratory manufactures your permanent restoration. Finally, you return for a second appointment to have the permanent crown fitted and cemented.

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. This system uses advanced computer-aided design and manufacturing to streamline the process by taking a 3-D digital scan (no putty or trays). With this information and on-site fabrication technology, your permanent crown is manufactured in-house and placed during the same appointment.

The Benefits of a Same-Day Crown

Aside from the obvious time savings and convenience of same-day crowns, this technology offers a better result in several ways. Here are a few more reasons patients prefer this modern approach:

• Improved accuracy: Traditional methods leave plenty of room for human error during the impression and casting phases. Digital scanning takes more accurate and precise measurements, resulting in an even better fit.
• No need for temporary crowns: Temporary crowns are more fragile than permanent restorations. You have to be careful of what you eat (hard, chewy, or sticky foods are discouraged) as temporary crowns are more susceptible to breaking or falling out, which would require yet another trip back to the office.
• No uncomfortable impressions: The digital scanner is small, fast, and completely eliminates the need to bite into sticky impression putty for several minutes, which can be uncomfortable for all of us, but even more so for patients with sensory issues or a sensitive gag reflex.
• A natural look: CEREC materials come in a wide variety of shades and are carefully matched to your surrounding teeth for a seamless result.
• Preserves tooth structure: The advanced CEREC process allows us to preserve up to 15-20% of your natural tooth compared to traditional crowns.

Who is a Good CEREC Candidate?

Most patients who need a dental crown can safely opt for CEREC. In other words, if you have enough healthy tooth structure to support a traditional restoration, you can probably choose a same-day crown.

Crowns may be a good restoration option if you have:

• Extensive decay
• A failed filling
• Serious cracking or chipping

While this technology is incredibly advanced, it is not a perfect fit for every dental issue. In certain complex circumstances, other restoration options may be more appropriate. For example, where damage extends below the gumline or multiple teeth are involved, we are likely to recommend other treatments. Likewise, while CEREC ceramics are highly durable for normal chewing, patients with significant teeth grinding issues may require a restoration made with a stronger material.

Choosing a dentist with extensive experience in restorative dentistry, as well as with same-day crowns, is the most important step in determining whether this advanced technology is right for you. And that’s where we come in. If you’re interested in learning more about CEREC same-day crowns, call for an appointment today!