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
CEREC® 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
How long do CEREC crowns last?
CEREC dental crowns can last between 10 to 15 years with great dental care practices. They are by far the most natural-looking restoration versus a traditional dental crown.
Are CEREC crowns as good as traditional crowns?
You have many options when it comes to choosing traditional crowns: Porcelain, gold, metal, ceramic. There is only one type of material 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.
Are CEREC crowns covered by insurance?
Yes, insurance plans can cover part, or all of, the cost of CEREC dental crowns. It is up to your insurance provider to decide how much they will help you pay for your crown. Contact your dental insurance provider for details. Or you can give our office a call at (410) 415-9013 or schedule an appointment online.