Crowns have long been one of the most commonly used dental restorations thanks to their ability to not only cover the area of decay that has been removed, but also restore the strength, function and appearance of the missing tooth. This is because a crown sits over the top of the damaged tooth, encasing it completely inside and, since it is artificial, it cannot be affected by dental decay.

Although the design of crowns has long been successful, professionals have continued to make improvements to it. Today, the technology, materials and techniques used are more advanced than ever and now there are a variety of different types of crown to choose from. One of the most popular choices is the CEREC crown.
 

What are CEREC crowns?

The word CEREC stands for Ceramic Reconstruction – a nod to the material from which this type of crown is created. Until fairly recently, crowns were primarily made either from porcelain or porcelain fused to a metal framework. However, CEREC crowns, while maintaining the same overall design as regular crowns, are created from a solid ceramic block – something which offers patients a number of advantages.

One of the main reasons that patients are turning to CEREC crowns is the speed with which they can be created and how it compares to traditional crowns. The process to receive conventional crowns usually takes several appointments. The first is used to prepare the affected tooth to receive the crown, as well as taking impressions of the patient’s teeth which will be used to create the final restoration. In the meantime, the patient is fitted with a temporary restoration. Once the final, porcelain crown has been created, the patient returns to their dentist to have it fitted.

With CEREC crowns, the entire process is compacted into just one visit to our dentist. Rather than using messy moulds, a computer technology program is used to undertake digital mapping of your tooth to be covered as well as those around it. This information is then sent to a machine which mills your permanent ceramic restoration straight away. Using the comprehensive plan created by the computer mapping program, the CEREC crown can be created with pinpoint accuracy. This means that the way that the crown fits, both over the tooth and against neighboring ones, should be absolutely perfect. While your crown is being milled, our dentist can prepare your tooth to receive it.
 

How long do CEREC crowns last?

Strength and durability are another key benefit of CEREC crowns. Each crown is milled directly from a single block of ceramic which helps to make it much stronger than porcelain or porcelain fused to metal varieties.

While porcelain crowns tend to last between 10-15 years, CEREC crowns have the potential to last two or three decades or more, provided that you look after them. Exactly how long they will last will depend on various factors including your oral hygiene routine, your general health and how often you visit our dentist.

Whether you need a new restoration or you are considering replacing an existing one, if you are interested in finding out more about CEREC crowns, we would be pleased to offer you a consultation appointment. Please contact us to schedule your visit.