CEREC® Crowns: The Procedure

CEREC® simplifies the process of getting dental cosmetics, like crowns. Crowns are one of the most popular oral restorations used in dentistry and provide cosmetic and restorative benefits.

Crowns are used to address oral issues like broken, chipped, fractured, discolored, decayed, and deformed teeth. These restorations can also be used to close spaces between teeth and can be combined with other dental restorations, like bridges or implants.

The CEREC crown process

Thanks to CEREC, it is now possible to complete the process of getting a crown during a single visit to a dentist. Getting a traditional crown requires at least two visits because the patient’s customized restoration is made offsite, and the process can take up to two weeks. The first visit is used to prepare the patient’s tooth and take an impression, and the patient gets their customized crown during their second visit.

With CEREC, the entire process is completed in a single appointment, and it can take as little as 90 minutes. The process uses Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to design and manufacture the patient’s restoration on-site.

This allows for detailed restorations that can provide improved aesthetics. CEREC restorations are made from ceramic, so they are resistant to stains. It takes the equipment about 30 minutes to make the patient’s restoration, and it is then bonded to the patient’s tooth using dental cement to complete the treatment.

The process

Here are the various steps that patients should expect when getting a CEREC crown:

• An oral examination is performed to determine if a crown is the right solution for the patient’s issues; X-rays and other diagnostic tools might be used to make this evaluation
• The patient’s tooth is prepared for the crown by removing enamel from its sides
• A dental camera is used to take digital images of the tooth being treated
• The CEREC software uses the images taken to create a 3D model of the patient’s tooth. The model is then used to design the patient’s restoration
• The information is sent to a milling machine that makes the patient’s tooth; the restoration is made from a solid ceramic block
• The restoration is immediately bonded to the patient’s tooth using dental cement; alterations are rarely needed, due to the highly detailed nature of CEREC crowns
• The patient leaves the clinic with their smile restored

Benefits of CEREC crowns

CEREC crowns are quite durable, and patients can expect them to last up to 15 years. These restorations are resistant to stains, making it easy to keep them looking white. The biggest benefit of getting a CEREC crown is the convenience that it offers. Patients no longer have to take multiple days off work or school to get the dental treatment that they need.

Make things easier with same-day crowns

Do you like the idea of not having to make two trips to the dentist to get a crown? Give us a call or drop by our Brevard clinic to schedule a consultation with our dentist.

Request an appointment here: https://www.carolinasmilesdentist.com or call Carolina Smiles Family Dental at (828) 884-3702 for an appointment in our Brevard office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: CEREC Dentist in Brevard, NC.