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Dental crowns are a tried and true restorative solution designed to protect decayed and damaged teeth. Dentists continue to rely on these durable prosthetics because they are proven to minimize potential infection and safeguard against possible injury. But what if there was a way to avoid wearing a temporary and instead, receive your finalized restoration the same day you arrived for treatment? Fortunately, there is a way with a CEREC crown. But how long does it take to produce one? Will you be stuck at the dentist’s office for an hour or half a day? Let a dentist explain what a typical timeline looks like when preparing this type of advanced prosthetic.

What are CEREC Crowns?

CEREC dental crowns are created using revolutionary technological software. Also known as Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, these restorations are generated with the help of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM).

Using porcelain materials, an in-house milling unit takes the digital image captured by your dentist and creates a durable, fully functional dental crown that is placed over your weakened tooth.

How Does Receiving a CEREC Crown Work?

Should your dentist believe you are an eligible candidate for a CEREC crown, you can expect to devote about two hours of your day toward receiving your new restoration. First, a dental professional will need to remove the decayed or damaged portions of your tooth and fill it with composite resin before prepping it for crown placement.

Next, your dentist will scan the tooth using a handheld device that captures high-resolution images onto a nearby screen and uses CAD/CAM technology to generate a 3D model. At this stage, your tooth will be digitally manipulated in a way to ensure the final restoration meets the desired specifications, fits comfortably, and looks completely natural.

Once the image is finalized, it is sent to an in-house milling unit where a small piece of dental porcelain is placed inside. The machine will then begin to craft the dental crown, all while you wait. If you would like, you may be able to watch the process unfold during your appointment. When ready, your dentist will cement the crown over your weakened tooth, bonding it into place.

This advanced method of treatment not only allows you to avoid multiple trips to the dentist’s office for treatment, but it also avoids unnecessary temporary crowns and reduces the risk of potential infection while waiting weeks for a permanent restoration.

No longer will you need to schedule two or three visits to achieve greater oral health. Instead, in as little as a few hours, you can enjoy the benefits of a fully restored smile.

About the Author
Dr. Rina Singh believes in providing patients with new and improved, advanced dental technology. By using updated devices and high-quality materials, she and her team can ensure greater accuracy and precision as well as reduce wait and recovery times. If you have a tooth that is damaged or decayed and requires a dental crown, CEREC technology will allow you to enjoy a fully restored smile much quicker than before. If you want to avoid multiple trips to the dentist’s office, contact us at (717) 937-8180 or visit our website.