The Many Benefits of CEREC® Technology

Dental crowns — sometimes called caps — cover your natural tooth and protect it. Some people need crowns if their tooth has a large cavity or it’s cracked or weakened. The good news is that you don’t need to wait weeks for a crown. CEREC® technology allows you to receive a beautiful crown quickly — and this technology is available at The Dental Center of Hercules.

Dr. Lovely Manlapaz Teodoro recognizes the advantages of offering advanced dental technology, and you can explore these benefits below. 

CEREC overview: What is it and how it works

CEREC — stands for ceramic reconstruction — is a chairside technology that allows you to receive a crown in one day, straight from the comfort of our office. Your same-day crown is designed and created digitally. 

The process is simple and straightforward:

1. Your dentition is scanned digitally — no messy impression trays
2. The dental prosthesis is designed on a special computer
3. The crown is then manufactured right in our office — no third-party labs!
4. The crown is fitted in your mouth 

This process enables you to receive a crown in one day.

Benefits of same-day crowns

There are several advantages of CEREC technology and same-day crowns, including:

1. Convenience

Convenience is one of the most alluring benefits of CEREC same-day crowns. Traditional crowns require at least two appointments: one appointment to take impressions and then a second appointment to place your crown (once it’s returned from the lab). Because the lab can take weeks to fabricate a crown, you might have to wait several weeks between your first appointment and your second one.

CEREC technology eliminates the need for scheduling multiple appointments and a long timeline waiting on the lab.

2. No need for temporary crowns

Because traditional crowns can take weeks to make, you’ll receive a temporary crown to protect your tooth while you wait. However, when you opt for same-day crowns, you don’t need to wait weeks for a permanent crown, which means you can say goodbye to temporary crowns. 

3. No need for messy impressions

Whether you opt for same-day crowns or traditional crowns, your crown is made to fit your tooth perfectly. Traditional crowns use impression material to make an exact mold of your teeth. This process can trigger a gag reflex or cause jaw soreness. It’s also quite messy!

CEREC technology doesn’t rely on physical impressions. Instead, the process is done digitally, and this means no messy molds, no gag reflex, and no jaw discomfort.

4. Treatments are fast

Even though the process is called “same-day,” you don’t have to spend the whole day waiting for your crown. In fact, the entire same-day crown process can be completed in just one hour. 

5. Same-day crowns look good

CEREC same-day crowns aren’t made of metal. This means you won’t see any of the dark margins (from metal crowns) around your gum line. These crowns look and feel like your natural teeth, so you can feel proud of your smile. 

Thanks to the powerful dental software program, your new crown perfectly matches your natural teeth. 

6. Long-term stability 

Even though same-day crowns take considerably less time to fabricate, they aren’t any less durable. CEREC same-day crowns are crafted from strong, durable materials, and with a solid at-home oral care routine, you can enjoy your new crown for many years.

To find out if a same-day crown is right for you, call our Hercules, California office at 510-254-3328. You can also schedule a consultation online.