Reconstructing your smile and taking care of your oral health should be a priority to ensure optimal overall health. When it comes to dental crowns, there are several options available. These include straightforward metal crowns, all-ceramic or porcelain crowns, and hybrid varieties like porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns.
However, one type of crown that is gaining popularity among patients due to convenience and use of the growing advanced technology is CEREC same-day crowns.
As the name implies, same-day crowns can diminish the time a patient spends in the dentist’s chair simply because they are created and implanted in a single visit, with the assistance of computer-aided technology. Today’s options for a same-day crown are more advanced than ever, and the modern CEREC crown material is designed to look great and last for the long term.
If your dentist has recommended a crown procedure (and you are curious about a CEREC crown vs. traditional crown), then read on to discover what you need to know about the CEREC crowns’ pros and cons. Also, find out how the Bay Area dental specialists at Pannu Dental Group are leading the way in this revolutionary procedure and can restore your smile in just a few hours.
What are CEREC Same-day Crowns?
When a tooth is damaged, broken, or severely stained, a dentist may recommend a dental crown procedure to enhance your smile and protect your surrounding teeth. These crowns are designed to mimic the look, feel, and function of natural teeth. Additionally, they are a permanent solution that can keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright for decades.
A CEREC crown is one of the many options when it comes to a dental crown replacement, and CEREC is shorthand for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. CEREC crowns are made of tough ceramic, a popular material in dentistry due to its durability and strength. Also, its appearance looks natural and identical to a patient’s surrounding teeth.
However, one of the most prominent features of a CEREC crown is that unlike more traditional and historical types of crowns – like metal crowns – a CEREC crown can be designed, created, and installed in a single day.
Using advanced computer technology, the dentist takes an impression of the precise specifications of the patient’s distinctive crown. Then, the dentist creates the CEREC crown from scratch and then implants the crown so that the patient has a virtually instant enhancement to their smile and oral health.
The digital technology that allows dentists to create and install the CEREC crown – as well as the durability of the crown itself – is precisely why CEREC crowns are becoming more and more prominent, especially among dental groups that utilize the latest advancements in medical technology.
What are the Advantages of CEREC Crowns?
There are a few primary benefits to CEREC crowns, which boil down to convenience and longevity.
Appearance
One of the most significant benefits of CEREC crowns is their inherently natural appearance. Unlike resin or metal crowns, a CEREC crown is typically identical in color to a patient’s surrounding teeth, which makes it virtually unnoticeable. In addition, this appearance does not tend to chip or wear over time, which means a natural-looking CEREC crown stays that way for the long term.
Durability
Patients have to be extra vigilant about their everyday activities when it comes to some types of crowns, like temporary crowns, before a two-step or two-visit implant procedure. Chewing certain foods, habits like teeth grinding, and even flossing incorrectly can all break or damage certain types of crowns, leading to a return visit to the dentist’s office for repairs.
However, this is typically not the case with CEREC crowns. The CEREC crown material is highly durable and resistant to abrasions, cracks, and other damage. As a result, once installed, future repairs and replacements are unlikely. Therefore, a patient has much more freedom to enjoy varying foods without paying careful attention to potential impacts or crown damage.
Convenience
Since CEREC crowns can be measured, created, and implanted in a day, they are a very convenient option for patients who want to avoid a traditional two-visit or more for any dental procedure. They’re also a good fit for people who are nervous about going to the dentist’s office simply because the procedure takes a few hours tops from start to finish.
What are the Disadvantages of CEREC Crowns?
Cost
CEREC crowns can be more expensive than traditional types of crowns, like metal or resin. However, because they are designed to last a long time (and look more natural than their counterparts), they may be a worthwhile investment for the long-term future.
Availability
CEREC crowns utilize advanced technology that not all dental practices can offer their patients. In order to explore your CEREC crown options, you need to connect with a Bay Area dental specialist who is renowned for being at the forefront of technological advancements in dental procedures.
The Process of Getting CEREC Same-day Crowns
The process of getting CEREC crowns is like other dental crown procedures, except that the required steps are condensed into a single visit.
These steps include the following:
- Consultation and examination – The dentist will examine the tooth that needs treatment to confirm that a CEREC crown is a viable (and the best) option.
- Digital impressions – Digital impressions of the tooth that require a crown will be taken to create the specifications for the new CEREC crown.
- Crown creation – The CEREC crown will be created at the dental clinic using digital instructions from the patient’s impressions.
- Placement and adjustment – Once complete, the CEREC crown will be placed in a minimally invasive procedure.
Experience the Benefits of CEREC Same-day Crowns Today
At Pannu Dental Group, we can help explain all your options when it comes to replacing a damaged tooth, including advanced CEREC Crowns.
Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation with our Bay Area dental specialists. Let’s discuss to see what treatments are optimal for your unique oral health needs. With a caring and expert team like the experts at Pannu Dental Group guiding the way, you can create a healthier, happier smile designed to last a lifetime while minimizing the time you spend in the dentist’s chair.
Dr. Dalvir S. Pannu has been a practicing dentist since 1995. In 1996 he opened his first dental practice in India, where he gained invaluable experience and acumen. In October of 1997 he was invited by the American Dental Association (ADA) to present the table clinic on Endodontics, at their annual session held in Washington, D.C. At this time he fell in love with the United States and became passionate about practicing dentistry in California. He became particularly enamored of the San Francisco Bay area, and soon took up residence and work here.