Whereas once fitting a crown used to be a multi-day procedure, CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) dental technology now allows dentists to manufacture and fit dental crowns in a single day. Rather than making molds of the patient’s teeth and sending them to a lab that produces dental crowns, dentists can use computer-aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM) technology to produce perfectly fitting crowns right in their offices. Let’s take a look at the advantages that this technology offers for dental patients and the dentists that care for them.
1. No More Waiting
CEREC technology can manufacture a custom dental crown in as little as 90 minutes, which means patients can have their restorations fitted on the same day as their original appointment. In contrast, patients who opt for traditional lab-made crowns can wait days or weeks for their restorations to be ready for fitting. Being able to have crowns fitted in a single day is fantastic news for people who have busy schedules, as they often struggle to take time off work to attend dental appointments or recover from dental procedures.
2. Say Goodbye to Temporary Crowns
Dentists usually provide temporary crowns for people who are waiting for permanent restorations to be ready. While temporary crowns fulfil the basic role of protecting teeth, they have many downsides. For example, it is easy to damage a temporary crown by eating foods that are very chewy or sticky. In addition, some people experience discomfort while having temporary crowns removed and swapped for permanent ones. CEREC technology allows people to avoid this stage of treatment and instead have their permanent crowns fitted right away.
3. Accurate Restorations
CEREC technology allows dentists to create crowns that precisely match the shape of their patients’ gums and teeth. The technology can also precisely match the color of the crown to that of the natural teeth, which means that there is no need to feel self-conscious about crowns that stand out from the rest of the smile.
4. Avoid Sensitivity
The accurate fit of CEREC crowns means that they are less likely to cause sensitivity than traditional dental crowns. Most cases of sensitivity after crown fitting arise from the restoration being a poor fit for the patient’s mouth, which is very rarely a problem when dentists use CEREC technology. Some people also experience sensitivity due to wearing temporary crowns. As these are not necessary when CEREC is used, the technology removes another possible source of sensitivity.
5. Crowns People Can Rely On
When people hear that CEREC technology allows dentists to fit crowns in record time, they often wonder if there is a catch. Do CEREC crowns really last as long as lab-made dental restorations? All the evidence suggests that CEREC dental crowns have excellent long-term outcomes. An impressive 95.5 percent of crowns made using this technology survive for at least nine years after they have been fitted.
Conclusion
CEREC technology is revolutionizing dental restorations for both dentists and patients. While patients enjoy the advantages of long-lasting, comfortable, well-fitting crowns, dentists benefit from the crown fitting process being sped up and made more efficient. Rather than waiting for dental laboratories to manufacture crowns, isn’t it time all dentists switched to using CEREC technology to produce custom restorations for their patients?
