The Pros & Cons Of CEREC Crowns – Are They Right For Me?

At Sarasota Bay Dental, we offer both CEREC crowns and traditional, lab-made dental crowns. Not sure what treatment may be right for you? Let’s discuss the pros and cons of CEREC crowns in detail. We’ll explain both the benefits and drawbacks of same-day crowns in Sarasota, and help you make the right decision.

The Pros Of CEREC Crowns

First, let’s discuss the benefits of choosing CEREC crowns in Sarasota. The advanced technology used to create chairside, single-appointment crowns at our office has a lot of benefits. 

• Convenience – Unlike traditional crowns, you can get a crown in just one day, in a single 1-2 hours appointment. Lab-made crowns take at least 2 appointments, often over a period of 2-3 weeks or longer. This makes CEREC crowns much more convenient.
  
  
• Aesthetics – CEREC crowns are carved from a solid block of tooth-colored porcelain, which looks and feels just like natural enamel. This means you’ll get really good aesthetic results when you choose a CEREC crown.
  
  
• No need for temporary crowns – Since you get your crown in one appointment, you don’t need to wear a temporary resin crown. These crowns can be bulky and uncomfortable, so this is a great benefit.
  
  
• Digital tooth impressions – In CEREC treatment, a special intraoral scanner is used to capture a 3D image of your mouth. This means you can avoid uncomfortable, putty-based dental impressions.
  

The Cons Of CEREC Crowns

While CEREC crowns are a great option for most situations, there are a few things to keep in mind before you commit to treatment. 

• Limited availability – Although this is not a problem at Sarasota Bay Dental, not all dentists offer CEREC due to the high up-front cost of the specialized equipment used to make same-day crowns.
  

• Not as strong as lab-made crowns – Lab-made crowns have a metal interior and ceramic shell, which combine for superior durability. Since CEREC crowns are only made of porcelain, they tend to be a bit less strong, and may not last quite as long as a lab-made crown.
  
  
• Less fine detail – Dental labs are usually able to create more fine detail in crowns like fissures, grooves, and ridges. CEREC crowns are not quite as finely detailed, though this will be impossible for most people to notice in day-to-day life.
  
  
• Unsuitable for some teeth – For example, if a tooth is broken below the gum line, the CEREC scanner can’t get a proper image of the tooth structure, and a traditional lab-made crown will be recommended instead.
  

What’s Right For You? Find Out With a Consultation At Sarasota Bay Dental!

The best way to find out which type of crown is right for you is to schedule an appointment at Sarasota Bay Dental. Dr. Robert Miller provides both CEREC and lab-made crowns, and can help you choose the treatment that’s right for your own unique situation. Contact us online or give us a call at (941) 200-3723 to schedule your consultation today.