Are CEREC Crowns Better Than Traditional Crowns?

If you have a damaged tooth, your dentist at The Center of Cosmetic and Family Dentistry may recommend a dental crown to fix the problem. Dental crowns are small tooth-shaped caps that fit over teeth. They can hide misshapen or discolored teeth or even a tooth implant. It can also hold a dental bridge and help restore or protect worn-down or broken teeth. 

Reasons for Getting a Dental Crown

Crowns cover the whole portion of a tooth visible above the gum line. Some of the reasons dentists recommend dental crowns include:

 

• Discolored tooth
   

• Weak tooth
   

• Misshapen tooth
   

• Broken tooth
   

• Dental implant
   

• Worn tooth
   

• Dental bridge
   

• A tooth with a large filling
   

• Cosmetic enhancement

Traditional Dental Crowns

A traditional crown is a dental restoration usually completed in two stages. The first appointment involves shaping your tooth and taking impressions. These impressions will help the dental technician make a crown in the laboratory. When the crown is ready, your dentist will schedule a second dental appointment for the crown fitting. 

Some materials used to make traditional crowns include all-resin, full metal, ceramic fused to metal, full ceramic, porcelain, and more. During your initial visit, your dentist will take many X-rays to check surrounding bone and roots. A root canal might be necessary if the tooth has excessive decay or infection. 

CEREC Crowns

Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic or CEREC crowns is a popular choice typically made of durable ceramic. It involves designing, creating, and installing dental restorations using modern computer and manufacturing processes. Patients usually get CEREC crowns as part of a same-day procedure to repair tooth damage from injury or decay. 

CEREC Crowns Vs. Traditional Crowns

Previously, you could choose the dental crown material and nothing else. Regardless of the crown material selected, the procedure was the same. Things are different today since you can also pick the crown installation procedure. 

It would help to educate yourself on traditional and CEREC crowns to make an educated choice. Some of the reasons many people prefer CEREC over conventional crowns include:

Same-day Procedure

You do not have to wait two or three weeks for your new crown. CEREC technology allows you to walk into your dentist’s office and walk out with a new crown on the same day. Your dentist will use computer-assisted design and manufacturing to capture detailed digital images of your jaw and tooth, design a dental crown, and create it for installation in the office. 

Appearance

CEREC crowns do not have a metal core to interrupt light reflection. So, they tend to look more natural, resembling the surrounding teeth. Most people will not realize that you have a crown unless you tell them. 

Strength

CEREC crowns provide reliable teeth restoration since they tend to be resistant to abrasion and sturdy. They take less time to install than traditional crowns but are just as durable. They make use of ceramic, which is one of the most robust materials available for dental crowns.

Conclusion

If you need a dental crown, you have options. It would help to understand your options to make the best decision. Your main options are a traditional crown or a CEREC crown. Both options will restore and strengthen your natural tooth, but the processes are different. Your dentist will help you pick the best option for you. 

For more on CEREC crowns, visit The Center of Cosmetic and Family Dentistry at our Destin, Navarre, or Panama City Beach, Florida offices. Call 850-810-0300, 850-409-6400, or 850-810-0600 to schedule an appointment today.