What Is a CEREC® Crown?

The revolutionary CEREC system is changing the way patients receive dental crowns today. Getting a traditional dental crown placed is known to be a long, drawn-out process. Some patients even put off the procedure knowing it will take a few weeks to complete. But with CEREC crowns, you can have a fully functional, customized crown in just one day.

What are CEREC crowns?

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic. These specialized dental crowns solve all of the same teeth problems as traditional crowns, but with an expedited process. Crowns can fix a variety of dental issues, restoring both the functionality and appearance of a tooth. Crowns cover the top of the tooth, acting as a protective cap that is more pleasing to the eye.

Patients often have crowns placed over teeth that have received a root canal, are severely discolored, have large fillings, have tooth decay or are cracked. CEREC crowns fulfill all these purposes and more. The difference between CEREC crowns and traditional crowns lies in the way each is made.

How are traditional crowns made?

Here is how conventional crowns work. At the initial appointment (after a treatment plan has been established), the tooth in question will be prepared. That could involve the removal of tooth decay, performing a root canal or removing broken parts of the tooth. Once the tooth is treated, it will then be prepared into a peg-like shape to make room for the incoming crown.

A physical impression is taken of the tooth, which is then sent off to the dental lab to make the crown. A temporary crown is placed on the vulnerable tooth while the permanent crown is created (this process can take up to two weeks). Once the permanent crown is complete, the temporary one is removed and replaced with the custom crown. All in all, the entire process for conventional crowns can take weeks, up to a month to complete.

How are CEREC crowns made?

First, the tooth is treated and prepared in a similar fashion to traditional crowns. After the tooth is prepared, the dentist then uses a computerized, in-office system known as CAD/CAM technology to take digital impressions of the mouth. This digital snapshot of the teeth provides an extremely accurate picture of the prepared tooth. These impressions are then sent to a chairside milling machine where the custom crown is shaped from a block of ceramic, right in the office. In under two hours, the patient can go from untreated tooth to a fully restored, permanent crown placement with CEREC.

Need a dental crown?

CEREC crowns are the same cost as traditional crowns, but with far greater benefits. Their accuracy provides a crown that is more comfortable and less likely to fail than a conventional crown. Our office offers CEREC crowns and we would love to help you love your smile. Call our office today to set up a consultation.

Request an appointment here: https://www.gablesexceptionaldentistry.com or call Gables Exceptional Dentistry at (305) 203-4132 for an appointment in our Coral Gables office.

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