Traditionally, patients who receive crowns or partial crowns from their dentist have to make at least two appointments.  At times, the patient must make an appointment in between these two visits when a temporary crown has fallen out or broken prior to the final crown being received by the dentist.  Keeping these visits involves travel time, inconvenience, waiting time, and lost time from work.  This problem was described by Dave Letterman on his late night television show.  Dave thought out loud to his audience, why in this day and age can't a dentist complete the crown procedure in one visit?

Well unknown to Dave at the time, a patient can receive a completed crown in a single visit.  The technology has existed since the mid-1980's.  Utilizing a computer, digital imaging, and expertise, a crown or partial crown can be made within two hours from start to finish.  The advantages of these CEREC restorations are far greater than convenience.

An additional advantage of a CEREC restoration is that a minimal amount of tooth structure needs to be removed after the decay and faulty filling are removed.  These restorations are glued, or bonded, to the tooth.  This bond creates a tooth with considerably more strength than it had before.  Since minimal tooth structure is removed, the tooth is less injured in the process.  Thus, the tooth has a better chance to remain problem-free and pain-free.

Since less tooth structure is removed, most of the junction between the restoration and the natural tooth are above the gums.  The benefit of this is that the dentist can smooth and polish the junction to a mirror-like surface.  This junction can be kept clean mostly with a tooth brush.  As a result, the restoration is less likely to decay.

Also, a benefit of the CEREC restoration is that the tooth-colored materials used to make the crowns and partial crowns are made in a very controlled and repeatable process.  The restorations are thus very strong, and predictably so.  Without CEREC technology, the restorations are made by hand.  Making these restorations by hand is less reproducible and less controlled.  As a result hand-made restorations may have a higher failure rate.  CEREC restorations enable dentists to provide a result that is more predictably long-lasting.

My patients value these restorations. They appreciate their beauty.  They appreciate their comfort.  Since we can duplicate the exact size and shape of an existing tooth, the new crown or partial crown can feel very natural.  My patients also value the convenience of obtaining these long-lasting tooth-colored restorations in a single visit of less than two hours.

If you are interested in obtaining more information on CEREC restorations, feel free to contact us at (972) 250-2580.