If you fractured a tooth or endured advanced decay that has caused a large hole to form in a molar, your dental provider may have told you that you are a candidate for a dental crown. Traditional crowns require an impression to be made and will usually require a manufacturing process that can take several days or longer to complete. CEREC crowns can be made and fitted during one dental visit.

Dental Visits And Costs

Receiving a traditional crown will require a dental examination, X-rays, and an impression of the tooth that is damaged. Once these steps are complete, a dentist places an order for the new crown. Traditional crowns are constructed of porcelain or metal and can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. A CEREC crown is one that is constructed of ceramics.

Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) crowns are made at a dentist's office. A dentist will use a digital scanner to record an image of the tooth that needs a crown. The scanner will take the place of an impression process. A dental patient will only need to attend one dental visit, which can be a large benefit to those who do not have a lot of free time. Because only one visit will be needed, the cost of receiving a crown may be less than if a traditional crown was being sought.

Color Processes And Wait Times

A CEREC crown will closely match the appearance of a natural tooth. Ceramics are slightly weaker than porcelain or metal, but that does not mean that a CEREC crown will be inferior to a traditional crown product. Molars are typically crowned. A dentist will use a color processing service to match the color of a CEREC crown to a natural tooth. A traditional crown may be manufactured at a place of business that is separate from a dental provider. The wait time that a patient must endure may require the use of a temporary crown.

Being fitted for a temporary crown is an extra step that a patient will need to undergo if they decide to purchase a traditional crown product. If a CEREC crown is selected, there will be no need to be fitted for a temporary crown. A dental patient will remain within the dental office throughout the entire crowning process. Once a dentist has examined the tooth and taken an image of it, a CEREC crown will be made and fitted in a patient's mouth.

Contact your dentist for more information about same-day crowns.