Despite our best efforts to look after our natural teeth, most of us will find that we need some degree of dental work as we get older. One of the most common types of dental treatment needed is a dental crown. This is a hollow, tooth-shaped cap that is placed over the top of a damaged or decayed tooth, encasing it inside so that no further harm can come to it. The crown also restores the shape, size and function of the damaged tooth so that the patient can continue to smile, speak and eat normally.

Although conventional dental crowns continue to be used successfully around the globe, many dentists are now offering a new and improved alternative – CEREC dentistry.

What is CEREC dentistry?

Despite having been in use worldwide since the late 1980s, many patients have never heard of CEREC dentistry. The term CEREC itself is short for ceramic reconstruction and, perhaps unsurprisingly, CEREC procedures involve restoring the teeth of the patient using ceramic restorations. However, the key difference between CEREC and other types of dental restoration is that CEREC dental solutions can be created and fitted in just a matter of hours.

For this to happen, the restoration is created using a combination of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technology. This highly accurate digital mapping is used to chart the inside of your mouth and your affected tooth, so that the restoration can be created with perfect precision. Once the design has been completed, the restoration is then milled from a solid ceramic block, right on the site of our dentist’s office. While you wait, any preparations needed for your new restoration can be carried out. Just a short while later, the restoration can be put in place and you can start to enjoy fully functional and attractive teeth once more.

CEREC dentistry can be used to create a variety of different types of restoration including regular crowns, crowns that are used in dental implants, full-contour bridges, veneers and even some orthodontic solutions. Nevertheless, ceramic crowns are by far the most commonly-requested CEREC treatment.
 

Advantages of CEREC dentistry

There are a number of different advantages to choosing CEREC dentistry for your dental restoration. Some of the most commonly cited are as follows:
 

Convenience

We lead increasingly busy lives, and this can mean finding the time for a single dental appointment is rarely easy, let alone the several that are usually required for a regular dental crown. With CEREC dentistry, you can leave our offices with your new crown the very same day.
 

Preserve more of your existing tooth

Conventional crowns require your natural tooth to undergo a great deal of preparation work, and in many cases, most of it will need to be filed down so that the crown can sit properly over the top. However, CEREC crowns can be created while still leaving the majority of your natural tooth intact. Less drilling will always make for a happier patient.
 

No need for messy impressions to be taken

If you have had any dental work in the past, you are probably used to the cold, uncomfortable feeling of putty and impression trays. These can be uncomfortable to use and leave your mouth feeling icky. However, with CEREC all of the planning is done via computer, meaning that you don’t need to go through the process of messy impressions.
 

Skip out on needing a temporary crown

In the process of receiving traditional crowns, you will be fitted with a temporary crown while your new, permanent one is being created. While this means that you can use your teeth, you will have to avoid certain foods, such as anything particularly sticky or chewy, as you won’t want to pull out your temporary crown. However, with CEREC you can go straight to a permanently secured solution, enabling you to get back to eating whatever you like straight away.
 

Your new restoration is strong and attractive

Milled from a single, solid block of ceramic, CEREC restorations are very strong and, with the right care and regular visits to our dentist, should last you for a very long time. CEREC restorations are also some of the most natural in appearance, enabling you to achieve a smile that is both functional and truly attractive.
 

If you would like to find out more about CEREC dentistry and CEREC restorations, please do not hesitate to contact our knowledgeable and experienced team.