Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Go to an Office That Uses CEREC

Are you looking for a durable and aesthetically pleasing solution for your damaged teeth?
CEREC is one of the most recommended filling and crown restoration methods by dental specialists, and it saves you money as well!

Are you looking for an aesthetically pleasing yet budget-friendly solution for damaged teeth?
CEREC ( Chairside Economic Restorations of Esthetic Ceramics) is one of the best options when it comes both your pocket and your smile, because it takes less of your time and it’s based on advanced 3D photography. But a realistic looking filling or crown is not the only advantage. You also get everything done in one sitting due to the material used and the technology involved. If you want to find out more about the benefits of this technology and how it works, take a look at our list of 3 reasons why you should go to an office that uses CEREC.

1. Less Time in the Dentist’s Office and Budget Friendly

In order to repair a damaged tooth, you will need at least a few visits. And let’s face it—nobody likes taking days off from work several times. The CEREC process not only takes less time, but it’s superior to the traditional method due to the fact that it doesn’t involve any metals poking through.

With the traditional process, you will have to do the following:

• Have an x-ray to determine if you need a crown or a root canal treatment
• Have additional therapies in case you need a root canal, which requires around two or hree visits
• Get your tooth numb and make room for the crown
• Get an impression using putty to determine the size and shape of the crown
• Wait for the lab work after the dentist finds out what the crown will look like (this usually akes around two weeks)
• Have a temporary crown during the two-week period
• Go for a second visit to have it implanted

We use CEREC here, and this is what you can expect:

• Only one appointment
• The impression will be made with a scanner that takes photos of your teeth
• The photos taken with the scanner are uploaded and analyzed by a software right away
• The whole process of creating the crown takes about 15 minutes
• The dentist will try to match the color of the crown with the color of your teeth

To summarize it, unless you need a root canal treatment, you will finish the entire process in just one sitting, and you will only stay in the dentist's office for about 2 hours. Even if you are going through a root canal treatment, you won’t have to wait weeks for your crown.

Does CEREC cost more? No, it’s the same price as traditional methods. But since you don’t have to pay for multiple visits, you will actually end up saving money.

2. It Feels and Looks like a Real Tooth

CEREC crowns are made from a higher quality material that isn’t prone to developing discolorations over time. On top of this, the digital imaging ensures that the crown fits perfectly and looks like a real tooth.

From an aesthetic perspective, CEREC has no competition, regardless of what other types of crowns your dentist may offer you.

The main problem with traditional crowns is that they’re made with metals as well, and at times you can see the color of the metal poking through.

3. It’s Durable and Safe

Not only is it cheaper and looks more realistic, but it also lasts just as long as a traditional crown. In a study run over 10 years, CEREC restorations passed the test of time in 85% of the cases.

On average, this type of crown lasts 10-15 years, but if you brush often and you avoid sticky foods, it may last even longer. Hard candy and caramel are particularly dangerous for your crowns, so it’s best to avoid them altogether.

Unlike traditional crows, which are made from a combination of metals, CEREC doesn’t raise any safety concerns. The amalgam used in the past contains small amounts of mercury. While it’s approved by the FDA, there is still a small risk of mercury toxicity.

A small percentage of patients who choose a dental amalgam have experienced allergic reactions to the mixture. Not to mention, many dentists avoid using traditional crowns on pregnant women. Even though the crown might be safe for the mother, the mercury can get through the placenta and damage the fetus.

Replacing the damaged amalgam fillings is also tricky, because when you remove it, it actually releases more mercury.

On the other hand, none of these risks are present in CEREC fillings and crowns.

Why We Use CEREC

We’ve been using CEREC for over 8 years. We got used to it soon after it came out because we were enthralled by the idea of offering a mercury and metal-free option to our patients.

Though the traditional fillings and crowns are approved by the FDA, we are still concerned about the small amounts of mercury.

CEREC is a budget-friendly option for our patients. On top of that, it saves time and allows patients to skip taking trips back and forth, as a crown or filling with CEREC can be done in one quick appointment.

Another reason why we love it is that it looks and feels like a real tooth. Using scanners and digital images we don’t just finish designing the crown in 15 minutes instead of weeks, but we also do it more accurately. The ceramic is also stained to fit the color of your other teeth and make it look as natural as possible.

In our experience, CEREC is by far the best method when trying to create aesthetically pleasing crowns and fillings. We are yet to find a superior option.

If you have any questions about what type of insurance covers this procedure and how much it costs, or if you’re just curious about what the end result looks like, we encourage you to visit our new patient page.