When Is CEREC Crowns the Recommended Solution?

CEREC® crowns are versatile restorations that are great for people who need a crown but do not have time to make two trips to the dentist to get fitted. Crowns have many uses in modern dentistry and serve both cosmetic and therapeutic purposes. A crown covers up the visible part of a tooth and hides any flaws on it. The crown looks like a real tooth, so others cannot tell when a person’s tooth is covered with a natural-colored crown.

Crowns also help restore the bite function of damaged teeth. These oral restorations are designed to be able to withstand the bite forces generated when chewing food, so it restores the function of a damaged tooth while protecting it from bite forces. Crowns also protect teeth from bacteria and acids in the mouth that lead to tooth decay.

How CEREC crowns are used to restore teeth

The traditional way of getting a dental crown can feel like a drawn-out process. The standard way requires at least two trips to the dentist. This is due to the way that crowns are fitted and made.

Crowns require the removal of enamel from all sides of the teeth being treated so it fits better when cemented into place. This is the first stage of the process. The dentist takes an impression of the patient’s tooth once it has been prepared for the crown. This is done by having the patient bite down on a dental mold that leaves an impression of their tooth. Digital images can also be used to make a 3D model of the patient's teeth, which can be used to make a customized crown.

The model or impression is sent to technicians in a laboratory where oral restorations like crowns are made. It takes the lab about two weeks for the lab to make the patient’s customized crown and get it back to the dentist. This is the reason that the standard way to get a crown takes at least two trips to the dentist.

The CEREC way

CEREC gives dentists the power to manufacture restorations like crowns on site. This makes the process of getting a crown simpler for patients. Their teeth are prepared just like for conventional crowns, and a 3D model of the patient’s mouth is created.

The information is sent to a computer, which the dentist uses to design the patient’s restoration. Once the patient and dentist are both satisfied with how the patient’s restoration will look, the data is sent over to a CEREC machine that makes the crown from a solid ceramic block. It takes about 20 minutes to make a crown with CEREC, so the patient waits in the dental chair while their restoration is being made. The dentist cements the finished restoration onto the patient’s tooth, completing the process of getting a crown with a single visit.

You only need a trip to our clinic to get a crown

Call or visit our Rockville clinic to set up an appointment with our dentist and start the process.

Request an appointment here: https://whiteflintfamilydental.com or call White Flint Family Dental at (301) 273-1085 for an appointment in our Rockville office.

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