CEREC Same Day Crowns
CEREC® CROWNS
In Round Rock
At Rock Ridge Family Dentistry, we’re always looking for ways to provide an even higher standard of dental care. We’re excited to invest in state-of-the-art dental technologies because it means that you’ll receive more advanced, effective, and efficient treatment. After all, we’re here to keep our patients smiling!
Our office is equipped with a CEREC® machine, which allows us to provide same-day dental restorations. This machine is truly changing the way we practice dentistry, and it also has a number of great benefits for patients.
What is CEREC®?
Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramic or CEREC® for short is a new state-of-the-art method of reconstructing tooth restorations. CEREC® uses computer-assisted design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) to offer single-day restorations for patients. This new technology has revolutionized ceramic restorations such as crowns and veneers for patients so that there is no longer a wait between preparing the restoration and finally receiving the finished product. With CEREC®, the technology is used while you are sitting in the dental chair, which is both economical for you and your dentist. The restorations created are metal-free and tooth colored to restore your tooth to its natural beauty, strength and function. With CEREC®’s CAD-CAM technology, these ceramic restorations can all be done in one single visit to the dentist.
The CEREC® Process
CEREC® uses CAD-CAM technology to design and mill custom restorations during one visit to the dentist. So how does this process work?
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Exam and Preparation
Before you get started, your dentist will determine if CEREC® is right for you. Depending on how much healthy tooth structure you have remaining, it may be a simple filling or you may need a crown. After reviewing your options, the dentist will begin the process by administering anesthetic and preparing your tooth for restoration by removing decay and weakened tooth tissue.
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Optical Impression
In order to make the desired restoration, a 3-dimensional image of the tooth that needs to be restored must be created from a digital camera scan of the tooth. This three-dimensional image will be used to create the restoration without the need to take a messy impression. This means no horrible tasting impression material for you to gag on. The computer and CEREC® 3D software then converts the digital image into a three-dimensional virtual model of the prepared tooth.
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Milling Unit
This device is used to used to create the custom restoration needed for the tooth. Based on the original color of your tooth, the dentist is able to select the correct colored ceramic block and in a few minutes, the milling device is able to create the restoration needed.
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Placing the Restoration
After the restoration is made, it is ready to be tried on to ensure that you get proper fit and bite. When it is ready, the restoration is polished and bonded into place by your dentist. Therefore, no temporary restoration is needed and no return trip is necessary, saving you time and money.
Advantages to Using CEREC®
CEREC® has revolutionized the restorative process. It was created with the patient in mind in order to make a visit to the dentist as pain-free as possible. Some of the benefits to using CEREC® are:
- Most procedures can be done in one visit – less costly and less time-consuming
- Less painful injections due to single-visit
- No need to take messy impressions
- No need to have a temporary restoration for in-between visits
- Ability to save as much natural tooth structure as possible
- Longer lasting restorations – may last over 10 years
- Restores teeth to natural beauty, function and strength
- Metal-free restorations
About
CEREC Technology
The CEREC machine a kind of all-in-one system that Dr. Louk and our team use to complete the design and the production of dental restorations, such as dental crowns. CEREC actually stands for “Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics.”
We first take digital images to create a virtual restoration. This virtual design is then sent to an on-site milling unit that manufactures the precise, natural-looking restoration. Once it is complete, we’ll place and fit it right then. The entire process only takes around a couple hours!
Contact us today to schedule your appointment!
Frequently Asked Questions About
CEREC® Crowns FAQ
We’ve compiled some of the most common questions about CEREC® crowns. If you have a question that is not listed here, please feel free to contact us and we’d be happy to talk further!
What Are the Pros of CEREC® Crowns?
One of the biggest benefits of CEREC® crowns is how much time it saves patients. Normally, it takes a couple of visits to complete the entire restoration procedure because it involves sending your images to an off-site laboratory for manufacturing. Since we’re doing everything in-house, in a single appointment, you won’t have to make additional trips to our office.
Another benefit of taking care of everything in one visit is that we won’t need to place a temporary crown for you to wear until your permanent one is finished. The crown you get is the crown you keep!
How Much Do CEREC® Crowns Cost?
Many people might think that because there are so many benefits to CEREC® crowns they’ll be more expensive than traditional restorations, but that’s not necessarily the case. Using CEREC® also means fewer visits and no need to work with an outside laboratory. Many times, a CEREC® crown costs about the same as a traditional dental crown. We’ll be able to give you a more accurate estimate once we’ve seen what work needs to be done.
How Do I Know I Need a CEREC® Restoration?
If you have a weakened or damaged tooth, such as one with a crack, decay, or an old restoration in need of replacing, then you could benefit from CEREC®. We can provide an evaluation in-person to determine if CEREC® is right for you!
