If you have a damaged tooth, your dentist will likely recommend a crown. Dental crowns are a custom-fit cap that goes around a broken, weak, or decaying tooth to help restore it. The tooth is reshaped to fit the crown, which is placed over the tooth. A patient might need a crown to fix a chipped tooth, to prevent grinding due to stress or misalignment, to fix a cavity, protect a dental implant, and more.
There are options when it comes to choosing the best type of crown, such as the material. A crown can be made out of metal, resin, porcelain, ceramic, or a combination of two. One very popular choice is the CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) crown. A CEREC crown is made from very strong ceramic and is designed and created by one machine in just a few minutes.
Pros vs Cons
There are many benefits to a CEREC crown, such as its appearance, strength, durability, and same-day procedure.
Appearance: The CEREC advanced technology allows the dentist to customize the crown to fit perfectly into the mouth and blend seamlessly with the rest of the teeth. A CEREC crown does not have a metal core, which makes it look even more like a natural tooth.
Strength & Durability: While a CEREC crown is made out of ceramic versus metal, gold, or porcelain fused to metal, it does offer great strength and durability. If you take care of it properly by following the list below, the crown is expected to last anywhere between 10 and 15 years.
- Brush gently twice a day
- Floss daily
- Avoid crunching on hard foods such as ice or hard candy
- Visit the dentist twice a year for a scheduled exam and cleaning
- Have your dentist check the crown at each visit to monitor its integrity
- Wear a nightguard if you grind your teeth at night
Same-Day Procedure: Without a CEREC machine, the dentist has to scan your teeth, send the scans to a lab where the item is fabricated, and then be shipped back to the dentist’s office. That process can take weeks. Oftentimes, throughout that process, the dentist will have to fix you with temporary dental restorations requiring multiple follow-up visits for the patient. With a CEREC machine, a crown can be created in around 20 minutes. Overall, the convenience of a CEREC machine is unmatched, especially if you have a very busy schedule.
A CEREC machine works by using advanced technologies to make a very precise 3D scan of a patient’s mouth, particularly in the area where a restoration is needed. The machine creates outlays, inlays, or crowns out of a ceramic block. After the ceramic piece is created, it is then color-matched to the patient’s tooth to give it a natural appearance. This process reduces the need for temporary restorations and multiple visits to the dentist.
If you have a decaying, damaged, or missing tooth and want to explore whether you are eligible for a CEREC crown, contact your dentist by phone or email to schedule a consultation.
Related Article: Why Should I Choose CEREC over Traditional