8894 Stanford Blvd Suite 200 Columbia, MD 21045-5162

Current Patients (410) 730-4674

New Patients (410) 415-9013

CEREC® Dental Restorations It's Done In One Visit

CEREC® – Same-Day Dental Restorations in Columbia, MD

It’s Done In One

This advanced dental technology known as Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing, or CAD/CAM, makes it possible to fabricate laboratory-grade dental crowns and other dental restorations in minutes. Our Dentist in Columbia, MD near you can place quality dental restorations without messy impressions and without a temporary dental crown.

It’s an amazing innovation when you consider that traditionally, crowns take two or three visits and just as many weeks of waiting. Now you can have a restored tooth without the wait. This technology has allowed us to take restorative dentistry in Howard County to the next level.

Best of all, studies have shown that CAD/CAM tooth restorations are just as successful as crowns made with traditional materials and techniques. And the amazingly lifelike appearance of a same-day crown means that no one will know your tooth has been restored.

How CEREC Works

With the help of the CAD/CAM software, we will design your dental crown while you wait. Then a block of dental ceramic material is chosen in the shade that most closely matches your own teeth. The computer’s digital design is transmitted to a milling machine that carves the crown from the ceramic block in about five minutes.

Once the crown’s fit has been verified, and any necessary aesthetic enhancements have been made to the crown’s surface (staining and glazing, for example), the crown will be bonded to your tooth. With a traditional crown, you would have to wear a temporary restoration for several weeks while the permanent crown was being fabricated at the lab. With a same-day crown, you walk out with the real thing.

CEREC® can be used to correct restorative dental concerns such as:

  • Broken or chipped teeth
  • Secure a root canal
  • Repair tooth damage
  • Severely worn teeth
  • Fit to dental implants

Benefits of CEREC® for Restorative Dentistry

same-day dental crownsCEREC® can help patients repair their smiles almost instantly. Dental crowns are used to treat a wide range of oral health concerns from chips and cracks to replacing missing teeth. CEREC® allows for the design, fabrication, and permanent bonding of a dental crown in just one visit to our Columbia dentist office near you.

CEREC® eliminates the need for impression trays, long wait times, and unnecessary trips to the dentist office. From beginning to end, we can place a dental crown in about two hours. The process is also more comfortable and painless. Since you are right in the chair, the whole process is much more exact.

We can use CEREC® to fit a patient with a dental crown after their root canal treatment. For patients who have received a root canal to address advanced dental decay or damage, a dental crown can help to secure the structure of the tooth. A dental crown in combination with a root canal offers conservative options for restoring the health of a diseased tooth without the need for extraction.

Benefits of CEREC® include:

  • Complete dental restoration in a single dentist office visit
  • Natural and comfortable results
  • Color-matched to adjacent teeth
  • Highly durable material
  • Can last a lifetime with proper oral hygiene
  • Enjoy eating without dietary restrictions

CEREC Dental Crowns FAQs

CEREC crowns give you a complete dental restoration in minutes. Learn more by reading the answers to these commonly asked questions.

How long do CEREC crowns last?

CEREC dental crowns can last 10 to 15 years with great dental care practices. The better you take care of them, the longer they’ll last. Brush twice daily, floss once daily, and visit the dentist regularly. They are by far the most natural-looking restoration versus a traditional dental crown.

Are CEREC crowns as good as traditional crowns?

When choosing traditional crowns, you have many options: Porcelain, gold, metal, and ceramic. However, only one type of material is used for CEREC crowns: ceramic. Another difference to consider is durability. Ceramic provides the most realistic-looking restoration but may lessen the lifespan by a few years.

Do CEREC crowns fit better than traditional crowns?

The computer-aided process ensures the most exact fit for your dental crown. 3-D scans and imagery get a complete scan of your tooth, including every little detail. We also compare the colors to ensure that the shade of your new crown fits in perfectly with the rest of your smile.

Does getting a CEREC crown hurt?

No, getting a crown should never be painful. We use a local anesthetic to numb the area we’re working on to eliminate any sensitivity. Since we have to prepare the tooth for a crown, you can experience sensitivity after we place the crown. If you experience this lasting more than two weeks, contact our office.

Do many dentists offer CEREC crowns?

No, only around eight percent of dentists offer this option. CEREC dentists embrace the latest in dental technology, ensuring those benefits are passed on to the patients. We consider this a good investment to ensure our patients get the best treatment possible.

Does insurance cover CEREC crowns?

Yes, insurance plans can cover part or all of the cost of CEREC dental crowns. Your insurance provider decides how much they will help you pay for your crown. Contact your dental insurance provider for details. You can also give our office a call at (410) 415-9013 or schedule an appointment online.