How does CEREC® restoration look?  What color is it?

CEREC® A tooth-colored restoration means no more silver fillings discoloring smiles. This restoration is natural-looking, compatible with tissue in the mouth, anti-abrasive and plaque-resistant.

 

What is CEREC® made of?

Material of Choice varies based on your existing oral condition and your Dentist's preferences.  The choices are EmpressCAD®, VitaCAD®, LAVA Ultimate®, etc.  Basically, they can be made of ultra high strength dental ceramic, dental composite, or a composite mixture of dental composite and zirconia fillaments.  In other words , your dentist has the flexibility in choosing the best material for you.

 

How long is the process?

Our process generally takes 53 minutes or less.  During your first visit, your dentist may require additional time in preparing your tooth.  Furthermore your tooth may require root canal therapy, post and core, etc, which will increase the duration of your visit.  Our process usually begins after your dentist has completely prepared your tooth.  Once the pictures are taken, in general, we can fabricate your final restoration within 53 minutes.

 

Is this procedure more expensive?

Although we hope to convince your dentist to keep the cost of your crown the same, it is set by your dentist.  Considering the simple fact that you no longer have to wait 2-weeks for a second appointment, and take additional time away from your schedule, second needle, etc... The real question should be what is that second appointment really worth to you.

 

Do I need a root canal therapy before a crown?

In general, this should be a question for your dentist.  However, it is a common practice to place a crown to restore a tooth without the need for a root canal therapy.  Your dentist should be able to assess the condition of your tooth before your treatment of a crown.

 

If I need root canal therapy after a CEREC® procedure, is it more difficult?

With the exception of eMax®, most of the CEREC® restorative material have the similar characteristics of the natural enamel. Since there is no metal underlayment, your dentist can navigate through the crown like natural tooth.  Furthermore, without metal, the x-ray can go through the crown allowing better visibility.

 

How does CEREC® look on the x-ray?

CEREC® material mimics natural to such an extent that it has very similar radio-signature.  Without the adhesive line, sometimes the average dentist will  not see the difference between CEREC® and enamel. What this means to you is that now your dentist can see through this crown and be able to detect any recurrent caries earlier.

 

I was told that I grind my teeth and that I have to get an all-ceramic restoration.  Will CEREC® be any different than the all-ceramic restoration I get from a lab?

CEREC® restoration are made of dental ceramic under high-pressure. In recent university studies, EmpressCAD has demonstrated 4 times better strength than laboratory ceramics, specifically porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. Therefore CEREC® restoration should be able to withstand significally higher stress than laboratory crown.  However, as a patient, you must always appreciate a phoenomena called failure by design.  If your restoration is much stronger than your tooth, when it's time for breakage, your tooth will break.  On ther other hand, if there is failure by design, the restoration will take the blunt of the trauma and suffer the breakage, hence saving your natural teeth.