Crowns

CEREC: Single Visit Restorations

What is CEREC?

We are pleased to offer our patients CEREC, a superior method of creating precisely-designed, color-matched and highly durable ceramic restorations right in our practice. From simple fillings to full crowns to veneers, CEREC delivers the results you need in a single appointment.

CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. CEREC means we can quickly and economically restore damaged teeth using a durable ceramic material that matches the natural color of other teeth in your mouth. CEREC has revolutionized the way our practice can deliver treatment to our patients. This high-tech equipment allows us to restore damaged teeth in a single visit. The result is a beautiful, natural-colored restoration that is much stronger than before.

What advantages does CEREC offer me?

First and foremost, the restoration can be performed in a single session, usually in about one hour. With CEREC there's no need for us to make an impression and send it to a lab. We won't inconvenience you by asking you to return for a second visit.

Secondly, the restoration is natural looking, because it is made of tooth-colored ceramic material. It's metal-free—no silver fillings to discolor your smile! The ceramic material is compatible with tissue in your mouth and is high-grade, anti-abrasive and plaque-resistant. It allows us to be extremely precise and save more of the healthy part of your tooth.

How does CEREC work?

First, we prepare the damaged tooth by applying a thin layer of reflective powder directly on the tooth's surface. Using a special camera, we then take a picture of the tooth. We work from this photo, which is actually a pin-sharp optical impression of the tooth.

Computer Aided Design technology helps us design the restoration from the optical impression. You can actually watch us design your new restoration on a full-color computer monitor right before your eyes!

Then CEREC creates an extremely precise restoration. A high-speed diamond bur and a disk work simultaneously to mill the restoration out of a solid block of ceramic material.

Finally, we bond the newly milled restoration to the tooth using state-of-the-art adhesive dentistry.

Over a decade of clinical research and experience supports the CEREC technology. User input and research have helped the manufacturer improve the product during this time. Dentists have performed over four million restorations worldwide.

Traditional Crowns

While most teeth can be restored with a CEREC, some must be restored with a traditional crown. Our crowns are metal free, just like CERECs.This long-term solution can help prevent the cycle of problems that can occur when just one tooth is missing, such as shirting of the remaining teeth, decay, periodontal disease and bone loss.

What Is a Crown?

A crown -sometimes called a "cap"-is a tooth-like covering placed over a carefully prepared existing tooth. Used to strengthen, restore or improve the appearance of your natural tooth, a crown is placed on an individual tooth much like a thimble over your finger. In addition to being used to strengthen a tooth to accommodate the attachment of a fixed bridge, crowns serve many functions. One of the most common is to support the tooth when there is no longer sufficient tooth structure left to place a filling. Crowns may also be used to protect the structure of a tooth that is fractured or broken.

Why Is Crown Treatment Necessary?

Losing a permanent tooth -whether it be due to dental decay, periodontal (gum) disease, injury or accident- can cause many serious problems for your neighboring teeth. Because the support and chewing forces are altered, the remaining teeth may begin to shift. The opposing tooth above or below the lost tooth can begin to move up or down and out of the socket, which can accelerate periodontal disease and further break down the bone structure. If the missing tooth is not replaced, more teeth may eventually be lost due to the improper forces exerted during chewing.

What Happens During My Appointment?

Once we determine that crown and bridge treatment is necessary, a series of appointments will be scheduled for you. It is important for you to keep all of these appointments to prevent any delays in treatment.

At the first appointment, we complete a thorough oral examination, including an evaluation of your dental history. Any necessary x-rays are completed at this time.

During the restorative procedure, we first numb the area to be treated. Next, we carefully shape and contour the tooth or teeth to be crowned to allow sufficient space for proper fit and appearance.

Finally, we make an impression of the area and fit the teeth involved with a temporary crown to protect them until your next appointment.

At the following appointment, we evaluate the final crown for proper fit before placing it permanently, making final adjustments if necessary. Other factors we carefully consider at this time include:

• Aesthetics-color match
• Appearance
• Function, chewing and biting accuracy

What Are the Benefits of Crown Treatment?

Crowns reverse the negative impact of missing teeth in a variety of ways:

• Restores and maintains the natural bite
• Prevents unnatural stress on other teeth
• Keeps opposing teeth in their proper place
• Prevents shifting and tilting of adjacent teeth
• Discourages further dental decay and periodontal disease
• Enhances your smile, speech and chewing function

Before & After Pictures

CEREC used to replace old fillings:

CEREC crowns used to replace broken teeth: