There’s never a convenient time to chip or break a tooth. When dental trauma occurs it’s only natural to want your tooth restored as quickly as possible – if not sooner! So isn’t it good to know that you can have access to CEREC crowns from No Gaps Dental? This innovative technology enables us to restore damaged teeth swiftly and safely.
What is CEREC Dentistry?
The abbreviation CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. It came into being in 1980 and was first used in 1985 and has been successfully used to restore teeth ever since.
The system uses CAD/CAM technology which enables our dentists to create natural-looking robust dental restorations at our dental clinics.
What is a CEREC Crown?
In essence, a CEREC crown is the same as a traditional crown. It fits over a tooth that is damaged or weakened, covering the visible portion from top to bottom and restoring aesthetics and functionality.
Common uses of a CEREC crown include:
- Repairing broken or cracked teeth
- Protecting teeth after root canal treatment
- Replacing old dental work
- Restoring teeth that are too badly decayed for a filling
- Correcting misshapen teeth
However, the way a CEREC crown is designed and created is completely different.
CEREC Crowns Vs Traditional Crowns
Traditionally, if you broke or damaged a tooth you would have to schedule multiple dental appointments over several days or weeks. At the first visit, your tooth would have to be prepared, impressions taken, and a temporary crown fitted.
Then you would have to wait for your crown to be made (which could take several days or weeks) before being called back to have your ‘temporary’ removed, your bite checked, and your permanent crown bonded in place.
How Modern Technology Has Streamlined the Entire Dental Crown Procedure
CEREC dental restorations, on the other hand, are fabricated at our dental clinic and placed during the same visit. So there’s no hanging around for weeks waiting for your crown to be made and no return visit to get your permanent crown fitted.
CEREC crowns are crafted in the clinic using state-of-the-art CAD/CAM technology and an on-site milling machine.
Patients are no longer required to bite down into an alginate mold to create an impression of their teeth. Instead, we use a handheld inter-oral scanner which is gently passed over the teeth and soft tissues.
Our dentist will prepare your teeth as they would for a traditional crown but instead of a physical mold, digital impressions are used to create a computerized crown design.
These are transferred to one of our computers enabling our experienced dentists to create the design for your CEREC crown using specialized software.
Once the design is approved, it’s sent to the milling machine.
A block of high-quality porcelain is selected from which the machine carves the physical restoration with digital precision, completing the task in no more than 15 minutes.
The CEREC crown can then be bonded in place on the patient’s tooth. The entire process is completed in a single session with no need to return for a second visit.
So now you have the answer to the question “what is CEREC dentistry?” you may be wondering what the benefits of CEREC are. Well, let’s take a closer look.
What are the Benefits of CEREC Crowns?
Here at No Gaps Dental, we strive at all times to provide high-quality patient care while protecting your oral health effectively and efficiently. CEREC crowns enable us to restore teeth in a manner that is speedy and convenient for our patients.
Benefits of CEREC crowns include:
- Only one visit – Patients save time and money since the CEREC crown is fitted the same day and there’s no need to schedule any subsequent time away from work.
- Comfort – Manual impressions can trigger a gag reflex and often leave a nasty taste in the mouth. Digital impressions are more comfortable than biting into an alginate mold.
- Natural–looking fit – The ceramic material is matched to the shade of your tooth while the 3D imaging technology fits the CEREC crown accurately to your bite and gum line.
- Form and Function – A single block of ceramic is used to create CEREC crowns. As a result, patients receive a durable crown that looks, feels, and acts just like a natural tooth. The CEREC crown is robust, less likely to chip, and blends in seamlessly with your smile.
- Safe – CEREC dental restorations are made from ceramic. As a result, they are bio compatible, metal-free, and safe for our patients.
- Less invasive – Depending on a patient’s needs, CEREC restorations are less invasive than traditional crowns and preserve more of the natural tooth structure.
- Cost-effective – While you could be forgiven for thinking this technology must surely come at a cost, you would be wrong. Not only do CEREC crowns negate the need for a second dental visit but they also spare patients the laboratory expenses. With our in-house milling machine, your CEREC crown is made the same day instead of our dentists having to outsource the dental work to an off-site laboratory.
If you practice good oral hygiene, there’s no reason why your CEREC crown shouldn’t last between 10 and 15 years. Keeping up with regular bi-annual check-ups and cleanings will also help prolong a lasting healthy smile.
Whether you need a tooth repaired using a dental crown or you want to improve the aesthetics of a discolored or misshapen tooth, we’re sure that you’ll be wowed by the entire CEREC procedure.
To find out more or to schedule a consultation contact the No Gaps Dental clinic at (02) 8007 6727 of your choice today.