Do CEREC Crowns Live Up to the Hype?

When visiting an Elgin CEREC crowns provider or even listening to an ad, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of technology. They do have a lot of good things going for them, but do they live up to the hype? Let’s take a look…

Convenience

The biggest claim to fame with CEREC crowns is that they’re completed in a single visit instead of two like traditional ones. That’s because the dentist takes digital impressions of your mouth (kind of a hybrid between a map and a digital photo), and then uploads that image to a milling machine. The milling machine takes the place of a dental lab, so the restoration is made right then and there instead of offsite. Patients then receive the restoration right away. There’s no temporary to wear and no return visit. In this respect, they’re a big win all around.

Durability

A traditional restoration is usually made of several layers of porcelain, oftentimes with a metal base for added strength. The in-office variety is made in a different way. Instead of starting with a base and adding layers, a block of material is added to the machine and the machine trims it to be a perfect fit based on the map created earlier. Studies have shown that both methods produce the same long-lasting results. In other words, they perform no better and no worse than traditional options.

Aesthetics

Really good dental ceramists are irreplaceable. They’re not only artists, but have a deep understanding of oral mechanics. When a great ceramist comes together with a dentist who has top-notch cosmetic skills, the final result looks incredibly natural and life-like, even on tougher cases like when a person may have different shades mixed on the various parts of the tooth. In those cases, getting an exact match is the difference between having a tooth that looks natural and having one that looks like a Chicklet, so artistry is important. CEREC crowns are not quite there yet. Dentists can choose from various colors and even do some shading on their own, but most dentists lack that depth of aesthetic skill. It’s something they have to study and practice extensively in order to get right. Because of this, you may want to skip in-office options for front teeth or verify your dentist is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Cost

Generally speaking, there’s little difference between the cost to make the traditional version and the high-tech version. However, rather than paying the lab for each individual restoration made, your dentist will purchase the machine and supplies. It’s also worth noting that all dental procedures are coded, just like medical codes, for the sake of billing. There’s no separate code for traditional vs in-office restorations, so dentists should be charging the same price.

Bottom Line

Generally speaking, they do live up to the hype, and that’s primarily because they deliver on the promise of time. However, there are other CAD/CAM options which work in a similar way. Dentists may prefer to work with a different brand, such as E-4D because they feel it produces better results or find the units are easier to upgrade and maintain.

Looking for an Elgin CEREC Crowns Provider?

Sirin Dentistry uses an E-4D machine, which the doctor prefers over other models, and has completed hundreds of successful cases with over the years. As a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and Elgin dentist, Dr. Sirin can not only give you fast results, but superior aesthetics as well. Call (877) 814-0977 or request an appointment online to schedule an appointment.