We have great news if you have a cracked, chipped or decayed tooth: we can restore your smile in a single day thanks to CEREC dental crowns and onlays.
CEREC uses high-resolution scanning to help design an onlay or crown to fit the unique contours of your tooth, and the piece is manufactured on-site. It’s an extremely durable solution that will have you speaking and chewing normally as quickly as possible.
If you’re looking for a faster way to permanently restore a damaged tooth, we’d be happy to discuss the options with you. Simply book an appointment and we’ll work with you to find the right solution.
What are dental crowns and when would I need one?
Dental crowns and onlays are used to rebuild a single tooth that has had too much damage for a filling to work. All three solutions are created outside of your mouth and then cemented in place, unlike fillings which are moulded within your mouth (they’re soft and workable when added to your tooth, and then allowed to set).
Dental crowns
A dental crown is a cap that goes over your entire tooth, protecting it from further damage (unlike a veneer which only covers the front of your tooth, and is often used for cosmetic dentistry).
As part of the preparation process for crowns, the remaining surface of the tooth has to be roughened so that the crown will adhere. In some cases (especially with large cavities) the damaged areas have to be removed before the crown can be designed.
Onlays
Onlays are also known as partial crowns, and they have the same great durability as crowns because they’re made from the same porcelain material.
We use onlays instead of crowns where possible, because with onlays you remove a lot less of the original tooth, preserving as much of its strength as possible. There’s also much less likelihood that cavities can form underneath the edge of an onlay. Additionally, research has shown onlays to be as long lasting as crowns and decrease the likelihood of losing the tooth in time.
CEREC same day dental crowns and onlays
Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics—or CEREC—looks and feels like a natural tooth. Unlike traditional metal crowns, the porcelain is colour matched to appear as natural as possible, and the onlay is contoured to match the profile of your original tooth.
Another great advantage of same day restorations is that the materials used with CEREC technology, like zirconia and Emax, are very biocompatible.
We can also do immediate dentin sealing, which stops bacteria from invading the tooth, decreases sensitivity, and creates a stronger bond for the restorations. This gives you more predictable, long lasting results. CEREC is a great example of how technology is helping us provide even better care for your smile than ever before.
How CEREC works
Here’s an overview of how the CEREC process works:
- First your dentist assesses and treats the damage to your tooth.
- Then she uses a small hand-held camera to capture high-resolution images inside your mouth.
- These images are combined to create a 3D model of your teeth.
- In a process known as computer-aided design (CAD), she designs a new onlay or inlay that fits perfectly with your natural bite.
- Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is used to mill your new crown or onlay from a block of tough porcelain.
- Your dentist polishes and glazes the crown or onlay, and sets it in a kind of kiln.
- In the last step, your dentist bonds the onlay or crown to your tooth.
It all happens on the same day in the same location.