Same Day Crowns with CEREC

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Professional, courteous, and friendly staff made me feel like family. My kids love to come for the periodical exams too and always leave with a smile. Dr. Ioana Theodora is really great! I would highly recommend to anyone!!!

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Valentina Nastase

Same Day Crowns with CEREC

Are you in dire need of a dental crown but don’t have the time or patience to undergo a long and arduous procedure for it? Don’t worry; we’ve got the perfect solution for you at Blanc Dentaire, Montreal. We understand that dental procedures can be quite time-consuming and require multiple steps to achieve a good treatment outcome. Well, they don’t always need to be. With CEREC, you can be in and out of the dental chair in just a few hours with your new dental crowns.

Dental technology has undergone exponential growth and advancement, bringing better methods and techniques into dental practice. Contemporary restoration strategies now rely heavily on efficient and streamlined systems like CEREC.

Patient demand for fast, highly aesthetic, and minimally invasive treatments has significantly increased over the years, and CEREC dental crowns have been hugely successful in catering to these needs. Dentists can now leverage CAD/CAM technology to scan, design, mill, and deliver dental restorations, including crowns, veneers, and bridges, in-office within a single visit. 

This blog discusses CEREC dental crowns and their various advantages, disadvantages, and candidacy for treatment. Continue reading to learn more about crowns that are constructed on the same day using advanced dental technology.

What are CEREC dental crowns?

CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restorations Esthetic Ceramics. In recent years, CEREC crowns have become synonymous with patient convenience and comfort, largely appealing to patients looking for reliable, quick, and aesthetic dental solutions. CEREC crowns are designed using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and manufactured with Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) technology.

Who are the ideal candidates for CEREC crowns?

In a nutshell, anyone who wants quick and reliable dental crowns without having to wait for weeks makes for the ideal candidate for CEREC crowns. A more detailed list of qualifying criteria can be found below:

  • 1

    Minor to Moderate Tooth Damage

Patients with mild to moderate tooth damage, such as fractures, decay, or wear, are suitable candidates. It is noteworthy that the damage should not be so extensive that it compromises the tooth’s structural integrity beyond the capabilities of a CEREC crown to fix.

  • 2

    Time constraints

CEREC crowns are a godsend for those who prefer to have their dental crowns completed in a single visit without the need for temporary crowns or multiple appointments.

  • 3

    Good Oral Health

Good oral health is a must when deciding whether or not you need CEREC crowns. Issues such as gum disease, significant decay, or other oral health problems should be addressed before getting a crown. Poor oral health can negatively impact the success and longevity of the crown and give rise to other problems in the long run.

  • 4

    Preference for a Non-invasive Procedure

Patients who prefer digital impressions over traditional and uncomfortable putty molds are likely to appreciate the convenient and efficient digital scanning process used in CEREC procedures.

  • 5

    Availability of Adequate Tooth Structure

There must be enough healthy tooth structure remaining to support the CEREC crown. If too much of the tooth is missing, other restorative options might be more appropriate.

  • 6

    Non-complex Dental Needs

Patients with straightforward restorative needs, such as single-tooth restorations, are the ideal candidates for CEREC crowns. Complex cases involving multiple teeth, significant misalignment, or severe damage might be better treated by crowns made in the dental laboratory.

  • 7

    Allergy to Metals

Patients with metal allergies are good candidates, as CEREC crowns are metal-free and made from ceramic materials.

Before deciding to get a CEREC crown, it is essential that you have a thorough consultation with your dentist. Your dentist will evaluate your specific situation, discuss your needs and preferences, and determine if a CEREC crown is the best treatment option for you.

What is the procedure for getting CEREC crowns?

The CEREC dental crown procedure involves several steps, typically completed in a single office visit. Here is a detailed overview of the process:

  • 1

    Examination and Preparation

Your dentist will start by carefully examining the tooth that needs the crown and determine whether it is suitable for a CEREC restoration. Once the decision is made, they will prepare your tooth to receive the crown. To do this, any decay or old filling material will be removed, and then some of the enamel will be trimmed down to accommodate the thickness of the crown.

  • 2

    Digital Impressions

Digital impressions adroitly simplify what used to be a laborious multi-step process and yield results that are not only highly accurate but also remarkably impressive aesthetically. By slowly moving a special hand-held 3D scanner along the surfaces of your teeth, your dentist will take exceptionally high-quality photos of your teeth and surrounding structures.

  • 3

    Digital Crown Design

The digital impression is sent to the specialized CAD software, where it is digitally rendered and manipulated to create a 3D model of the dental crown that conforms to your oral anatomy.

  • 4

    Crown Milling

Once the design is finalized and approved, the CAM milling machine is tasked with the fabrication of the crown from a block of high-quality ceramic. Automated drills get to work and start carving into the ceramic block that is placed inside the milling machine, drilling it down into the shape of a dental crown. This shape is predetermined by the CAD software. This process usually takes only about 10-20 minutes.

  • 5

    Fitting and Adjusting

The newly milled crown is then fitted onto your tooth to check for comfort. The shape and color are also inspected. Any necessary adjustments are made to ensure that the crown sits snugly and blends seamlessly with the rest of your teeth.

  • 6

    Cementing the Crown

If all is well, your dentist will then clean the prepared tooth and the inside of the crown. A dental adhesive is applied to the tooth, and the crown is placed over it. The crown is then securely bonded to the tooth using a special curing light to harden the adhesive.

  • 7

    Final Adjustments and Polishing

After the cement hardens, your dentist will make any final adjustments to the bite and polish the crown to ensure it feels and looks just like your natural tooth.

What are the advantages of CEREC dental crowns?

CEREC dental crowns are a modern solution for repairing damaged teeth and have several distinguishing features and benefits:

  • 1

    Same-day procedure

CEREC crowns are designed to be created and fitted in a single dental appointment. In contrast, traditional crowns typically require multiple visits to the dentist and the use of temporary crowns while waiting for the permanent crown to be made in a dental lab.

  • 2

    Comfortable, Swift, and Accurate Dental Impressions

CEREC technology has replaced traditional, often inconvenient, and messy impression techniques with digital impressions. Digital impressions forego the need to insert sticky plasters using uncomfortable trays inside the mouth and wait while they set and instead employ a digital scanner to do the job more accurately.
The technology built into the digital scanners diminishes any chances of error and guarantees the clearest impressions possible. Besides being highly accurate, they’re also exceptionally swift. It takes only 40 seconds to complete a scan of half the arch and two minutes for a full-arch scan.

  • 3

    Use of High-Quality Materials

CEREC crowns are typically made from high-quality ceramic that closely mimics the appearance of natural teeth. The material is durable and can be color-matched to blend seamlessly with your existing teeth.

  • 4

    Immediate Placement

Once the crown is milled, it can be immediately placed and bonded to the tooth, circumventing the need for multiple appointments. This means patients do not have to wait weeks for their permanent crown or deal with temporary crowns that can be uncomfortable and less stable.

  • 5

    Reduced risk of pulpal damage

Eliminating temporaries from the procedure not only saves dental appointments and time but also plays a great role in maintaining the health of the tooth. It reduces the risk of inflicting trauma to the dentin and the pulp, a consequence that is highly likely to occur with the traditional process that includes temporary restorations.
When the temporary crown is removed, the tooth surface is cleaned and dried excessively to make it more receptive to the permanent crown, increasing the risk of pulpal damage and contamination of the dentinal tubules in the dentin layer situated beneath the enamel. With no temporary restorations to remove and expose the tooth to damage, CEREC crowns offer a safe and reliable solution.

  • 6

    Superior Aesthetics

The aesthetic qualities of CEREC crowns greatly surpass those provided by metal restorations. Metal-free restorations have no underlying metal substructure that can block the transmission of light through them and affect the way they look. For this reason, these restorations closely match the color and translucency of natural teeth.

  • 7

    Minimally invasive

The absence of a metal core in CEREC crowns allows for your teeth to be prepared using a minimally invasive approach. This means that only a negligible amount of tooth enamel has to be removed to make room for the crown, as the metal thickness does not have to be accommodated. Adherence to conservative tooth preparation goes a long way in preventing damage to the tooth’s pulp and other problems down the road by preserving as much of the healthy tooth structure as possible and maintaining the tooth’s integrity.

  • 8

    Accuracy and Fit

The precision of digital impressions and CAD/CAM technology often results in a more accurate and better-fitting crown compared to traditional methods, ensuring improved comfort and functionality.

  • 9

    Facilitates Easier Cleaning of the Crown

As CEREC crowns are composed of a thin layer of restorative material and offer great aesthetics, they allow the margins of the crown to be placed above the gum line. Crown margin placement can influence the health of your gums and, therefore, is of paramount importance when designing a dental crown. Placing the margins above the gum line facilitates easier removal of plaque and food debris and avoids trauma to the surrounding soft tissue. This helps keep the area around the crown clean and in good health.

You may need a dental crown for various reasons, such as tooth decay, a cracked tooth, or after a root canal treatment. If your goal is to receive unparalleled treatment, schedule a consultation at our Montreal dental office to discover the transformative benefits of CEREC same-day dental crowns. Visit our website to book an appointment and let our passionate team take care of your dental needs.

Are there any disadvantages of CEREC crowns?

While CEREC crowns offer many advantages, there are also some potential disadvantages that you need to be aware of. These include:

  • 1

    Less Durable

Although CEREC crowns are made from high-quality ceramic, they may not be as strong or durable as metal-based crowns, such as gold or porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, especially in areas of the mouth that are subjected to large biting forces. Ceramics are brittle in nature and may chip or fracture when subjected to high pressure.

  • 2

    Damage to Opposing Teeth

All-ceramic restorations can cause abrasive wear of the opposing natural teeth and damage the tooth enamel.

  • 3

    Limited Material Choices

CEREC technology primarily uses ceramic material, which may not be suitable for all types of restorations. For some patients, metal or other composite materials might be a better choice in terms of durability and strength.

  • 4

    Inability to address complex cases

Patients with complex dental concerns, such as those with significant tooth decay that requires extensive tooth preparation or malaligned or multiple missing teeth, may not be suitable candidates for same-day CEREC crowns. For cases like these, traditional crowns fabricated in a dental lab might offer better customization and results.

The Bottom Line

Dental crowns serve to protect, cover, and support your natural teeth that are in a debilitating condition, and to keep them in your mouth for as long as possible. They leverage the remaining natural tooth to build a strong base for the crown, providing a practical solution to extensive tooth damage, and evading the need for tooth extraction. 

There are various types of crowns made from a variety of materials. Talk to your dentist to determine one that’s right for you. This can depend on your personal preferences, budget, and what you want to achieve with the treatment. 

Despite being extremely durable, dental crowns are not indestructible. You will eventually need to get them replaced. However, with proper care and maintenance, a crown can last you for many, many years to come.