Are CEREC Crowns as Good as Traditional Lab-Made Ones?

I went to my dentist the other day and he told me I needed a crown. He said he had a new machine that could give me a crown in a day, so I wouldn’t have to come back for a second visit. I don’t want to sound too old school, but I’m not sure I trust a machine to do it right. He’s always had a guy at a lab do the work and I have some done by him and they’re solid. Some of them have been in my mouth for more than 10 years. My doctor says the CEREC crowns are just as good, but I’d really prefer that we do the traditional method and have the guy make it. I know his work and I trust it. I don’t know this new machine and I’m not sure I want to anyway. I want an unbiased opinion. Are CEREC crowns really just as good as the ones the guy at the lab makes?

-Frank

Dear Frank,

It’s understandable that you’d be a little wary of new technology. Sometimes new gadgets can be fluky and cause mayhem. Bear in mind, though, that CEREC crowns aren’t actually a new thing. They’ve been around for years and there are several machines that make crowns in a day now. Your dentist is staking his reputation on this, and that surely isn’t something he takes lightly. If he has been working with the same ceramist for as long as you say he has, it must have been incredibly difficult for him to change over as well.

Yes, machine-built restorations can be just as strong and aesthetically pleasing as those made in the lab. If you’re curious as to why your dentist switched over, though, you should ask him. There’s a very good chance he’ll excitedly talk your ear off about all the benefits of adapting to new technology and about the track record of his particular machine. It will probably be enough to set your mind at ease.

This blog is sponsored by Elgin dentist, Dr. Steve Sirin.