If you have a tooth that is badly damaged or decayed, a dental crown is likely the best choice to restore it. Traditional lab-created crowns certainly have their place, but increasingly, dentists and patients are choosing CEREC same day crowns instead. CEREC stands for CERamic REConstruction or Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, depending on who you ask. Either way, here are 4 reasons CEREC same day crowns are revolutionizing modern dentistry.
1. Convenience
A major reason that patients and dentists alike choose CEREC same day crowns is for the convenience. A lab-created crown requires you to make two separate appointments. At the first appointment, your dentist will remove all damage and decay from the tooth and prepare it for the crown. He or she will then take impressions to send to the lab, and then send you home with a temporary crown. A few days or weeks later, you will return to the office to have your finished crown placed.
With CEREC, we repair and prepare the tooth as normal and then take digital impressions. We feed the impressions into a specialized computer where 3-D computer aided design (CAD) software models the new crown. The model then goes to our in-office milling machine, where your final, customized crown is created from a block of color matched dental porcelain. We will bond the crown to your tooth before you leave, and there is no need for a second appointment.
2. Accuracy
Using a 3-D digital camera to acquire the image of your prepared tooth allows for increased accuracy and detail compared to the traditional impression techniques.
3. Aesthetics
Crowns made of porcelain over metal are fairly aesthetic, but they are imperfect. It is tough to make dental porcelain look just like dental enamel when it is over a metal frame, and the exposed metal often shows as a thin, dark line along the gums.
CEREC same day crowns are made entirely of dental porcelain. They more naturally replicate the appearance of dental enamel and, without a metal frame, there is no dark line at the gums.
4. Strength and Durability
CEREC same day crowns use strong, durable, stain resistant dental porcelain. CAD technology allows us to create a fit that is more secure and more precise than that of a lab-created crown. The biocompatible porcelain more closely resembles natural tooth enamel, and the crown is chemically bonded directly to the tooth. The average CEREC same day crown is 18 percent stronger than the average crown created in a dental lab. In addition, you will not need to fight with a poorly fitted, difficult to wear temporary crown while waiting for your permanent crown.
Of course, no dental procedure is right for everyone. We will discuss your options with you and help you choose just the right solution to meet your unique needs and goals. For many patients, though, CEREC same day crowns are an excellent way to boost both aesthetics and functionality while spending less time in the dentist’s chair.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re ready to get started with a highly experienced dental team in NYC, contact Meridian Dental Group today at 212-813-0850 to schedule your first appointment.