The CEREC Crown Advantage
Hi-tech CEREC dental crowns offer a superior alternative to traditional crowns. The conventional dental crown was in its time a groundbreaking advance in dentistry. Then along came state-of-the-art CEREC all-ceramic same-day crowns.
The advanced technology behind CEREC crown treatment bypasses the manual process of making dental crowns in a lab. This gives patients a huge advantage in terms of convenience and faster treatment. Getting a dental crown used to take at least two weeks, with two or more appointments. CEREC crowns can be placed in two hours or less in a single visit to the dentist. That’s why they’re often referred to as same-day crowns.
CEREC crowns have several other advantages compared with the standard dental crown process. These benefits include:
- More natural look.
- No need for impressions.
- No need for a temporary crown.
- No possibility of human error in crown fabrication.
Function of Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a cap shaped like a tooth. It covers the whole surface of a damaged tooth to restore strength, size, shape and color, and improve appearance. Crowns repair decayed or broken teeth, reinforcing tooth structure and providing a safeguard against further damage. They’re often used when teeth have sustained too much decay or physical trauma to be repaired with a filling.
Other applications of crowns include:
- Securing a bridge or denture.
- Providing the artificial tooth on top of a dental implant.
- Fortifying a tooth with a large filling.
- Improving appearance of a tooth with a filling that’s become discolored.
- Enhancing appearance of a misshapen or badly stained tooth.
- Protecting a tooth after root canal treatment.
CEREC crowns can perform all the functions of other types of dental crowns, but with some big differences.
The Same-Day CEREC Crown Difference
Materials used to make dental crowns include metal alloys, composite resin, and a combination of porcelain and metal. However, same-day CEREC crowns consist of a solid, single block of ceramic. This means they’re almost as strong as dental enamel. They look and feel like a real tooth and avoid the darkened edges of crowns with a metal foundation.
Same-day ceramic crowns are made with CEREC technology. CEREC stands for ceramic reconstruction, or chairside economical restoration of (a)esthetic ceramics. The process is the results of two decades of clinical research. CEREC uses computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and computer-aided design (CAD). This avoids the need for impressions of the mouth, which can result in a distressing gagging reaction.
Neither will you need a temporary crown. Temporary crowns have been known to come off or cause tooth sensitivity, making the waiting time for the permanent crown an uncomfortable experience. The digital technology behind CEREC crowns also eliminates the possibility of human error that may occur in the manual fabrication of crowns.
CEREC crowns have proved to be a popular choice at Willow Springs Dental. Our Summerlin dentists can produce high quality, custom-made, tooth colored CEREC crowns in-house in as little as 60 minutes.
The CEREC Crown Procedure
The first step in CEREC crown treatment is preparing the tooth, with local anesthesia to numb the area. Preparation includes cleaning the tooth and shaping it to ensure the restored tooth will be the same size as the original tooth.
The rest of the process entails:
- Using a high-definition imaging wand to create a digital image of the tooth.
- Inputting the tooth’s dimensions into a computer.
- Digital design and fabrication of the crown.
- Placing the crown, with minor adjustments if necessary.
- Polishing the crown for a perfect finish.
- Checking bite function and making any final modifications.
After the CEREC Crown Procedure
It’s advisable to avoid hot foods or drinks immediately after the CEREC crown procedure. These could burn your mouth while it’s still numb from the anesthetic. You should also avoid hard or sticky foods for a couple of days. These could damage the crown while the adhesive used to secure it in place is still hardening.
Your tooth may be sensitive to hot, cold or sweet foods and drinks for up to two weeks after your procedure. This discomfort can be managed with pain-relief medication. In the long term, it’s important to maintain a good routine of brushing and flossing your teeth and avoid drinking a lot of dark-colored beverages like tea, coffee or sodas. Over time, these can stain the ceramic crown as well as your teeth. We also advise our CEREC crown patients to continue visiting their Summerlin dentist regularly for check-ups and dental cleanings.
How Long Do CEREC Crowns Last?
Like conventional crowns, a CEREC crown lasts 10 to 15 years on average. In some cases, crowns last 20 to 30 years, with meticulous care.
You can help to extend the lifespan of your CEREC crown by:
- Choosing an experienced CEREC dentist.
- Wearing a custom nightguard if you clench or grind your teeth.
- Wearing a custom mouthguard for sports.
- Avoiding chewing hard objects like ice cubes or pencils.
- Limiting sugary and dark-colored foods and drinks.
CEREC Crown Cost
CEREC crowns tend to be more expensive than a conventional crown. This is due to the advanced technology involved and because it’s a labor-intensive procedure for your dentist. If you have insurance, you can expect to pay $500 to $1,500 for a CEREC crown, compared with $300 to $1,000 for a standard dental crown.
The cost depends on considerations such as:
- Expertise of your dentist.
- Condition of the tooth.
- Your insurance coverage.
Is CEREC Crown Treatment Right for You?
A CEREC same-day crown will be a good choice if you want a quality, natural-looking dental restoration without the inconvenience of more than one appointment and a temporary crown. Our Summerlin dentists report that many patients requiring a crown find the slightly higher cost of a CEREC restoration is well worth it for the multiple benefits they get.
Call us at (702) 867-2745 or contact us online now to find out more about the CEREC crown advantage, whether this hi-tech dental restoration is right for you, and the financing options available to spread the cost to suit your budget.
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