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CEREC one-day restorations can help you restore your smile in the most convenient way possible when it comes to dental crowns. CEREC porcelain crowns can provide you with beautiful, natural-looking results for many years.
How is a CEREC Crown Different
Using chairside technology, CEREC restorations are a custom-designed porcelain crown that is designed just for you by your dentist.
Digital Impressions
Your dentist will take a digital impression of your teeth before custom designing your porcelain crown. These digital impressions offer extremely accurate results, and are able to capture the smallest crevices of your teeth to achieve a fit that is as precise and comfortable as your own existing tooth.
Tooth Milling
Once your dentist has your digital impression completed, an in-house milling machine forms your porcelain crown from a piece of high-density, high-quality ceramic block.
Applying Your CEREC Crown
Once your crown has been created and the process is complete, the crown will be placed on the imaged tooth with a durable cement that works as a gluing agent. After ensuring that the crown is secure, your dentist will give your new crown a final polish and you will be on your way.
How Long Does a CEREC Crown Last
A porcelain CEREC crown typically lasts for between 10-15 years with proper care. Just like any real tooth, if you have teeth-damaging tendencies like teeth grinding or clenching, the lifespan of your crown can be significantly reduced. For patients with these types of tendencies, our dentists recommend wearing a nightguard to keep your teeth as protected as possible, because some crowns can last for up to 30 years before needing to be replaced.
Helping Your Crown Last
To help your crown last for as long as possible:
- Get a custom fit nightguard made by your dentist that fits your teeth and bite to prevent teeth grinding
- Never use your teeth as tools to open or tear into anything
- Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing for 2 minutes, twice a day
- Schedule regular dental exams twice a year so your dentist can monitor your new crown and other surrounding teeth
Added Benefits of a CEREC Crown
A typical crown procedure takes multiple appointments, and requires patients to wear uncomfortable temporary crowns between tooth preparation and receiving their crown. A CEREC crown can make the process more pleasant for patients by:
- Providing same-day results
- Eliminating the need for any gag-inducing goopy impressions, and instead using a digital impression with a 3D image
- Creating a custom crown in the space of 30 minutes from the milling machine
- Eliminating the need for a temporary crown
- Eliminating the need to make a second, or even third appointment for a crown
- Repairing tooth damage in a fast, comfortable procedure
Why patients love the CEREC procedure
Gone are the days of having to schedule multiple dentist appointments and taking hours from your workday to fix a dental emergency of a damaged tooth. Same day crown fabrication lets you restore an entire tooth, without waiting on temporaries or for your crowns to return from a far-off dental lab. The entire CEREC crown treatment can be completed in just one visit, leaving patients everywhere with more time, and lasting results.
Are you a good candidate for a same day crown?
In order to be a good candidate for a same-day crown, your damaged tooth must be:
- A Molar – Because the milling process can’t create all the nuances of a natural tooth, the crown will not appear natural if it is located in a highly visible place like the front of your mouth.
- Broken above the gum line – If the break is below the gums, the scanning device is not able to create a precise image for in-office fabrication
- Healthy – The tooth in question needs to be cavity free before a crown can be placed. If you do have a cavity in the tooth, you could still be eligible for a CEREC crown, but the procedure will not be able to be completed in the same office visit.
If you’d like to find out if you’re a good candidate for a CEREC crown, ask us at your next appointment.
