4 Reasons to Choose CEREC® Crowns

CEREC® systems are moving from the cutting edge of restoration dentistry and into the mainstream. More dentists are taking up the technology to provide their patients with quality, same-day restorations. Do restorations like CEREC® crowns come as advertised, or will this technology become just another passing trend? This article seeks to answer this question by looking at the reasons that you should choose CEREC® crowns.

About CEREC® systems

Every step of creating a CEREC® restoration happens with the aid of computer software. Instead of biting down on a putty-like substance, the patient only has to endure a few seconds of an intra-oral scanner in their mouth. The design and fabrication processes are just as simple. This is one of the reasons that many patients choose CEREC® crowns when they have the option. Other reasons include the follwing.

Speed and convenience

Traditional crowns have a wait time of about 10 to 14 days. This forces the patient to wear a temporary restoration as they wait for a dental lab to fabricate their permanent crown. It also forces the patient to spend two sessions in the dentist’s chair instead of one. On the other hand, the operative term in CEREC® is “Chair-side.” This means that the dentist can design and fabricate the permanent crown as the patient waits. Not only does the patient avoid two dental appointments, but they also get the option to have a fully functional tooth in a matter of hours. This is a welcome development for patients with dental issues like pulpitis. They can get a root canal and a permanent crown in a single visit.

A smile preview

After the dentist takes an intra-oral scan of the patient’s mouth, they feed the resulting digital images into design software. The software makes a digital model of the patient’s teeth, capturing the exact alignment and dimensions of the teeth. Using this model, the dentist starts to design a crown that matches the patient’s smile. They use their patient’s input to design a dental crown of ideal size, shape, alignment, and color. Together, the patient and dentist make adjustments to create a smile that the patient approves of. The final design forms the blueprint for the fabrication stage of the CEREC® process.

Better aesthetic and a better bite

The fact that the dentist and the patient get to preview the patient’s smile means that there is an increased chance of a natural-looking crown. Even better, a computerized milling machine does the fabrication and ensures that the crown looks exactly like what the dentist has in mind. With a minimal chance of unpleasant surprises, the patient gets to go home with a smile that matches their good mood.

Strong restorations that last a long time

The success of a hand-crafted crown comes down to the skill and precision of both the dentist and the technician who crafts the crown. Several things have to go perfectly for a traditional crown to turn out well:

• An accurate mold from the dentist’s office
• The dental lab has to do an accurate job of mixing the materials that go into the crown
• The technician also has to do an accurate job of making a cast of the mold
• They have to be precise as they pour a uniform layer of hot wax onto the solidified cast
• The technician needs to maintain the ideal temperature during the firing process that solidifies the porcelain crown

Each step is an opening for human error. In contrast, software operates the milling machine that sculpts crowns and other restorations from ceramic blocks. These blocks are consistently sturdy, with the perfect ratio of components and computerized curing. The result is a crown that can last decades.

With CEREC® crowns, a brand-new smile is at your fingertips

If you are interested, get in touch with our practice. The dentist will use CEREC® to restore your smile in the shortest time possible. Request an appointment here: https://www.stgeorgedentalcare.com or call St. George Dental Care at (435) 628-9099 for an appointment in our St George office. Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: CEREC Dentist in St George, UT.