Traditionally, a dental crown is made in a dental lab, which means it takes two appointments to complete the restoration. Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, also known as CEREC crowns is a faster, more natural-looking alternative that can be fitted in a single dental appointment.
A CEREC crown uses CAD/CAM technology to take digital impressions and design a customised dental crown in just one visit, enabling you to leave with a fully restored smile. However, CEREC crowns have pros and cons.
What’s the process?
Once your teeth are cleaned a 3D camera creates an image which is run through software to create a precision mould. Then the computer-driven milling machine fabricates the dental crown out of a block of composite resin, ceramic or porcelain so your dentist can polish and fit the crown. So no more messy impressions, temporary crowns or multiple visits.
The CEREC crown can be used to restore broken, chipped, fractured or decayed teeth, as well as support a weakened tooth after a root canal, provide the prosthetic tooth in a dental bridge and top a dental implant. But what exactly are the CEREC crowns pros and cons?
Pros of CEREC crowns
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Convenience
CEREC crowns can be fabricated in our dental practice while you wait, so you don’t need to be fitted with a temporary crown or return for another appointment. This means less time in the dental chair and more convenience for you.
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Minimally invasive
Since you no longer need to be fitted with a temporary dental crown, you won’t experience the discomfort associated with fitting and removing it before replacing the permanent crown.
You also avoid future decay because ill-fitting temporary crowns allow bacteria to access your tooth structure more easily.
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It preserves more of your natural tooth
The procedure requires less drilling, so preserves more of your natural tooth, making your recovery much faster.
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Precision
CEREC same-day crowns are created using state of the art CAD/CAM technology to ensure a precise fit for your mouth and comfort.
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Natural-looking and feeling
Our CEREC crowns are made from tooth-coloured ceramic to blend seamlessly with your natural smile. You can enjoy all your favourite foods because your CEREC crown is as strong as your natural teeth.
Cons of CEREC Crowns
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Less durable
CEREC crowns might be less durable than lab-made dental crowns which use a porcelain-fused metal design.
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Not the right option for every tooth
A tooth fractured below the gumline can’t be scanned with the CEREC scanner so a traditional crown will be required. Your tooth dentition or tooth position may impact the scanner’s ability to capture an acceptable 3D image, removing CEREC as an option.
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May be cost-prohibitive
Cutting-edge CEREC technology typically costs more than traditional dental crowns.
Is a CEREC crown the right choice?
At Gordon Family Dental, we provide both traditional and CEREC same-day crowns in our dental practice. If you have a decayed, damaged or broken tooth, please contact us on (02) 9159 6163 to request an appointment to discuss the CEREC crowns pros and cons. We can help you decide if a CEREC crown is the right restoration option for your oral health and unique smile.
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