CEREC Crowns – Columbia, MO

With life’s busy schedule, it can be hard to find time to visit the dentist to restore a damaged or decayed tooth. However, until recently, getting a new dental crown typically required not one, but TWO trips to a dental office. Fortunately, those days are now in the past thanks to CEREC technology! 

At Columbia Healthy Smiles, Dr. Philip Batson uses the latest computer-aided design and manufacturing technology to craft high-quality crowns on the spot. In just a fraction of the time it would take to get a traditional crown, you can walk out of our doors with a rejuvenated smile! If you have a tooth that needs some attention but have limited time to spare, you could likely benefit from CEREC crowns in Columbia.

What Is a CEREC Crown?

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic. Instead of making an impression of your tooth and sending it off to a dental lab to be created, CEREC technology brings the dental lab in-house! Using cutting-edge CAD/CAM – or “computer-aided design” and “computer-aided manufacturing” – software, a CEREC crown can be milled out of a solid ceramic block right here in our office while you wait. 

Just like traditional restorations, CEREC crowns can address all of the following issues:

• Broken, cracked or fractured teeth
• Misshapen or undersized teeth
• Discolored teeth
• Teeth that have undergone root canal therapy
• Teeth with large dental fillings, which can weaken the teeth walls

The CEREC Crown Procedure

Getting a CEREC crown manufactured and placed at Columbia Healthy Smiles is quick and easy. First, Dr. Batson will prepare your tooth by gently filing it down to make room for the restoration.  

Instead of the messy putty-like material used to make impressions for a traditional crown, a tiny digital camera will take highly accurate 3D images of your tooth. Dr. Batson will use this data and the CEREC software to make an accurate virtual model of your tooth and restoration.

Next, an in-office milling machine will carve a custom crown based on the virtual model from a single block of ceramic. This part of the process typically takes about an hour.

Once the crown is ready, Dr. Batson will securely attach it to your tooth and then send you on your way.

What Are the Benefits of CEREC Crowns?

CEREC crowns in Columbia offer many benefits compared to traditional restorations, such as:

• Fast Results – The entire CEREC process only requires one appointment that lasts between one to two hours.
• No Mess – CEREC’s digital camera eliminates the need to take messy impressions with putty-like material.
• Skip a Step – You will not have to wear a temporary crown for a week or longer while you wait for a dental lab to create your restoration.
• Natural Appearance – Your crown will be custom-designed to blend in seamlessly with your existing smile.
• Long-Lasting – With proper care and biannual visits to a dentist in Columbia, CEREC crowns can last 10 to 15 years, or longer.