CEREC Crowns: Advantages and Disadvantages

Restorative dental services are an integral part of fixing problems and maintaining your oral health. Some of the more common restorative procedures include fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures or veneers. Where fillings are not found to be a suitable option, crowns or inlays are required to replace or cover an affected tooth. These procedures can often require numerous visits to the dental practice to complete.

Let’s face it, while the benefits of visiting the dentist are obvious, a trip to the dental office is rarely the highlight of one’s week. For those who run busy schedules or for others who may suffer from dental-related anxiety there is a fantastic option. This article explores an expedited restorative process called CEREC crowns. We’ll look at the journey towards CEREC crown placement, their advantages and disadvantages and whether this restorative option is right for you.

What Are CEREC Crowns?

Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, otherwise known as CEREC, is a special computer device used to create same-day dental crowns, inlays or onlays, and porcelain veneers for clients right in the office. Instead of taking impressions and having them mailed to an external laboratory to create a restoration and deliver it back, CEREC allows our team to complete the tooth preparation, impressions, restorations and adjustments in-house during the same visit! 

Unique imaging software is used to create an electronic image of the tooth/teeth that requires treatment. Once the required images have been acquired, they are sent to a milling machine, similar to a 3-D printer, which manufactures the crown from ceramic blocks right in front of your eyes. Within the same visit, the clinicians prepare the milled tooth and place it for permanent use.

CEREC restorations are just as functional, beautiful and natural-looking as lab-created restorations made miles away.

Difference Between Conventional & CEREC Crowns

The primary difference between conventional crowns and CEREC crowns comes down to time. CEREC crowns are composed of 100% ceramic material; whereas, traditional crowns can have a metal core or be 100% porcelain. The difference isn’t really appreciable unless the crowns are located on anterior teeth. CEREC crowns are manufactured in many different shades of white and are similarly translucent to original teeth. When placed properly the finished product appears unbelievably natural. Another significant difference from the traditional crown placement process is the differing lengths of time required for the procedures. Where traditional crown placements can take weeks requiring shorter visits, a CEREC crown can typically be done in a couple of hours during one visit! Despite the expedited time frame, CEREC crowns have been found to function as well as traditional crowns. 

Advantages of CEREC Crowns

CEREC crowns offer several advantages and benefits.

Comfort

As previously mentioned, instead of taking traditional impressions, CEREC technology integrates new technology capable of generating quick and clean digital impressions that will be used to fabricate an in-house crown ready for direct placement. 

Versatility

CEREC technology can be utilized for numerous applications including inlays, onlays, crowns and veneers. 

Skip The Temporaries

If you need a crown, there’s a good chance you have a broken or damaged tooth. When getting a traditional crown, you’ll usually wear a temporary crown until the permanent one is installed. Temporaries hold the space for the crown and cover the tooth to decrease sensitivity.  It is placed in a non-permanent fashion so that it can be retrieved by the dentist.  There is sometimes a little sensitivity with the temporary until the permanent tooth is place.

Financial Savings

It is often said that “Time is money” and CEREC crowns were invented to support clients who live by this notion.  Although the overall price of a CEREC crown is the same price as a traditional crown there are several factors that lead to potential savings. As CEREC restorations can be done in one visit there are less trips to the dental office, less time off work, less burden on others that may need to drive you to the clinic, less risk traveling on busy roads, and more time with loved ones. 

Speed of Process

It is rare that someone who suffers from oral issues desires a lengthy recovery plan. In the twenty-first century treatment plans should offer timely, comfortable, and natural-looking solutions. With CEREC same-day crown procedures, clients benefit from timely and comfortable solutions offering radiant results they can be confident in.

Aesthetics

Because ceramics mimic a natural tooth’s appearance and luster so closely, a CEREC crown typically offers the results most clients are hoping for. CEREC crowns can be utilized for restorative and cosmetic purposes depending on the needs and values of each client. A collaborative face-to-face visit with your Living Wellness Dental dentist will reveal whether CEREC technology is right for you. 

Disadvantages of CEREC Crowns

Durability

There are more durable options than ceramic-based products. Gold is a good example of an extremely durable product that offers longer-term durability. The obvious drawback is that the finished product is not a seamless addition to your radiant white smile. Additionally, these more durable options take time, and require more visits to the dental clinic. If function and durability are your priorities you can discuss these options with your Living Wellness Dental dentist.

Procedure Incompatibility

There are certain scenarios where a CEREC crown would not be a suitable solution for the diagnosed issue. In some circumstances tooth fractures may extend below the gumline. Where such instances are observed and your dentist determines that symptoms that are not conducive for a CEREC crown, they will likely recommend other options including but not limited to a conventional crown.

Limited Availability

One of the most significant disadvantages of CEREC crowns is that not all dentists offer same-day restorative services. Due to the cost of acquiring the specialized equipment and training required to manufacture and fit the crowns, it can be hard to find a practice that offers one-day crowns. 

Getting a CEREC Crown

The process of getting a CEREC crown may vary slightly depending on the specific needs of the client, but typically, a CEREC crown appointment follows a fairly standard process:

• An examination of the area of concern is conducted.
• The dental team will use a special camera to take a digital impression of the teeth.
• A set of ceramics are used to match up the right colour with the tooth/teeth.
• The impression is sent to the milling machine for fabrication of the custom-fit crown.
• The dentist typically cleans up, polishes and prepares the crown to ensure a perfect fit.
• The crown is placed for permanent use.

Talk to Your Dentist about CEREC Crowns

If you’re unsure if you even need a crown, a great first step is booking an exam and cleaning with Living Wellness Dental. If you and your team of professionals determine that a crown would help you achieve your oral health objectives, the option of a CEREC crown is worth discussing with your dentist. 

During the appointment, you and your dentist can determine whether CEREC crowns are right for you. Give us a call today to embark on your oral wellness journey with Living Wellness Dental.