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Cerec or One Day Speed Crowns that require only one Visit or Sitting

What are Cerec or One-Day Crowns?

Some dentists are now using Computer Aided Design to digitally measure and then fabricate a custom crown that is fabricated, there and then, in the office of the dentist. These are know as Cerec Crowns, or one day, or even sometimes speed crowns. This means that you can have a crown made in only one sitting or only one visit to the dentist.

Crowns are usually complex restorations and typically will involve two or more trips to the dentist.

The traditional process for a crown is cumbersome. First the tooth has to be prepared for the crown, the post added. Then the dentist will take a mould of the teeth, using a type of dental putty, and send the mould away to fabricate a custom made crown to fit the gap required. Your dentist will glue on a temporary crown. Once the real crown is finished, you need to go in again and have the new crown properly inserted.

Instead of using a mould and a putty, your dentist will use a special camera to record a 3D model of your tooth. The data is then transmitted to a special milling machine that will automatically fabricate the tooth. Your dentist simply chooses the shade of porcelain from pre-prepared blocks that is required, to be the best match to the original teeth.

Advantages of One Day or Cerec Crowns:

The whole system is a real advance in the technology. Not only are you more likely to get an exact fit, the whole process can be performed easily in one appointment.
It's a big time saver. The Cerec crown is also valuable in you are having treatment elsewhere and only have time for one visit. Many people choose to have dental treatment in cheaper areas of their home country, or have dental treatment abroad.

Disadvantage of One Day or Cerec Crowns:

The machine used to do the milling does not produce a perfect finish. The crowns are not a good choice for front teeth, where the crown finishing often has to be done by hand to blend in exactly with the teeth. For teeth in the rear of the mouth the fine detail cannot be seen, and they will blend in perfectly. As with anything, you get what you pay for. This is an expensive machine, and your dentist will charge you more. However, if you add the time off work and the hassle, and extra charge for having it all done may well be worth it.