A crown (or cap) is a covering that encases the entire tooth surface restoring it to its original shape and size.  A crown protects and strengthens tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations.

Although there are several types of crowns, porcelain (tooth colored crown) are the most popular.  They are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they may eventually need to be replaced.  Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile.

Do you recall a crown or crowns you've had made at your dentist's office where a tooth was numbed and shaped, an impression was taken, a temporary crown was cemented and then you left the office? You had to return to the office in two or three weeks to have the crown fitted and cemented to the tooth. Did you have any problems or sensitivity with the temporary crown?

Unlike this traditional method, Cerec uses a combination of infrared imaging, computer CAD CAM design and a precise milling machine to help complete the entire process is about 2 hours from start to finish - all in one appointment!

Why would you want a Cerec crown instead of a conventional one?

• Less time in the dental chair - half the number of appointments; fewer local anesthetic episodes.

• Less tooth structure is lost in most cases. We can make most of the preparations for these crowns without cutting away as much of your natural tooth.

• Many lab crowns have a metal substrate that porcelain is bonded to. Cerec crowns are all porcelain - this means lower chances of allergic or immune response to the material in the crown.

• Less chance for complications - most temporary restorations leak or have other discrepancies that can sometimes lead to increased sensitivity and this can even create the need for further treatment such as root canal therapy. When the crown is started and finished in one appointment, the tooth structure is better sealed off and protected at an earlier stage with the result that risk of complications and/or sensitivity can be lowered.

• Cerec is GREEN (environmentally friendly), it is efficient and it SAVES you MONEY ($).
  a) Fewer materials used - most materials in the process have a far lower negative impact on the environment.
  b) Fewer appointments mean fewer miles driven in your car for transportation.
  c) Fewer appointments mean fewer wasted disposable materials including paper products, syringes, plastic products, autoclave cycles, rubber gloves, masks and so o