Restorative dentistry goes a long way in making up a beautiful smile, especially if your teeth are damaged or decayed. One of the ways to make your smile look as good as new is by using a dental crown. This is a tooth-shaped prosthetic that fits right over the damaged tooth or an implant to restore the tooth’s function and aesthetic.
Depending on function and preference, patients can opt for a variety of options when picking their dental crown, based on size, shape, material and color. Of course, most individuals will go for white to achieve a more natural appearance. When it comes to material, crowns are usually made of porcelain, resin, ceramic, metal or a combination.
Unlike traditional dental restoration methods, such as dentures, dental crowns are long-term and permanent fixtures. Investing in the right crowns can be a valuable investment that reinstates your tooth’s function, achieves a great smile and lowers the chances of clinic revisits. Because you’re going to be using them for a long time, it’s important to choose correctly.
CEREC crowns are a popular option for those looking for a dental restoration solution. It stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics – and as the name goes, these crowns are made up of strong ceramic material which is built using CAD/CAM technology.
So what exactly makes them so popular, and why are they such a good investment?
Natural appearance
CEREC crowns are made of ceramic, which matches the natural appearance of your teeth closely. Additionally, they’re made with computer-aided technology which perfectly mimics regular teeth and looks just like the real thing!
Precise fitting
Thanks to computer-aided technology, CEREC crowns have the ability to provide a better bite and a more precise fitting. The dentist will use a small camera to make a thorough scan of the mouth to create a 3D digital impression. After that, a milling unit is used to create an exact match using one complete ceramic block. This allows the crown to come out as accurate as possible. Additionally, because it is done on-site, patients will be able to test out their new sculpture and make any possible changes.
Quick procedure
While traditional dental crowns can take up to weeks from the first appointment, a CEREC one can be created in just one visit. The dentist is able to provide an entire chairside treatment and complete the procedure in less than two hours.