Same Day CEREC Crowns: Crown Types, Pros & Cons

What Is a CEREC Crown?

The new same-day CEREC crowns, offered at most Smile Generation-Trusted offices, have incredible advantages over traditional crowns, offering patients a better fit, less time at the dentist, and less pain and sensitivity. 

CEREC crowns are made of an extremely durable ceramic or dental resin that can be matched perfectly to the color of your other teeth, so they won’t stick out in any way. 

CEREC crowns are a unique improvement in dental technology because they involve combining several new computer advancements. 

1. To create a CEREC crown, first, the dentist takes an image of your tooth to create a 3D digital impression instead of using the thick dental plaster commonly used to make dental impressions.
2. The dentist will then use Computer Aided Design (CAD) to create the blueprint for the crown.
3. Next, the dentist will use Computer Aided Manufacturing as a milling unit to take the design and make it into a tangible crown that can be placed into a patient’s mouth.

 

Within one dental appointment, a CEREC same-day crown can be formed by a single dentist, when before, a crown would take weeks involving several professionals to create a similar product. 

If CEREC crowns interest you, you might be like to learn more about the many other types of dental crowns that are available!

Types of Crown Materials

Dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials, and each type offers its own benefits in terms of strength, appearance, and longevity. The most common materials include porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), zirconia, and lithium disilicate ceramics—all designed to restore your tooth’s function while matching the look of your natural smile.

What Are CEREC Crowns Made Of?

CEREC crowns are crafted from strong, tooth-colored ceramic blocks, usually made of lithium disilicate or zirconia. These materials are trusted in modern dentistry for their durability and natural appearance. While traditional crowns—like PFM (porcelain-fused-to-metal)—use a metal base with a porcelain coating, CEREC eliminates the metal entirely for a more seamless, lifelike look.

And the best part? Everything is done right here in the office, in just one visit—no temporary crowns, no waiting.

💪 Which Crown Material Is Strongest?

Zirconia crowns, including the ones made with CEREC, are among the strongest materials available in dentistry today. They’re built to handle everyday chewing forces while still looking great. In fact, studies have shown zirconia crowns can match or even outperform traditional PFM crowns in strength—especially when designed as monolithic (one-piece) restorations.

That said, not all ceramics are the same. Older resin-based crowns used decades ago didn’t hold up as well, which is why today's high-performance ceramics like CEREC-milled zirconia or lithium disilicate have become the new standard for both strength and esthetics.

So, whether it’s a back molar that needs to take on serious bite pressure or a front tooth that needs to shine when you smile, CEREC materials are up to the task.

The benefits of a CEREC crown make getting this type of dental restoration an easy choice. The pros of having a CEREC crown are:

You only need one appointment to prep the tooth and place the crown, which means one less copay or dental office fee that will come out of your pocket. And, of course, this also means no waiting between appointments before you finally get a permanent crown. 

You never have to wear an uncomfortable temporary crown. Because a temporary crown is not custom-made for your mouth, it doesn't feel natural. Some temporary crowns can fall out as you wait for your next dental appointment. This can leave your prepped tooth exposed and sensitive, increasing the risk of injury. 

CEREC crowns are durable and last 15 years or longer. Oral hygiene has much to do with how long a crown will last in your mouth. If you consistently brush your teeth twice a day and remember to floss, your CEREC crown can last a long time. 

Because of the digital imaging, the impression made for your CEREC crown can exactly replicate your tooth. This means that it will fit well between the adjacent teeth. 

CEREC crowns, while made of quality ceramic material, have a lower cost of production because a single dentist can create the digital impression and mill the crown using technology all during the same dental visit. The lower cost of manufacturing a CEREC crown keeps the price competitive with traditional crowns even though patients can wait weeks for a traditional crown to be created. 

A traditional dental impression is made by sinking your teeth into dental plaster. The thick paste and odd sensation can make many patients gag in response. But because a small camera makes a  digital impression for CEREC crowns, the whole mess of dental plaster can be completely avoided. 

Perfect Color Match to Your Other Teeth

A dentist can color the CEREC crown to match your other teeth. Visually, this makes it so no one can tell which tooth has a crown when looking at your teeth. 

Because of the smoothness and durability of the outer ceramic layer, the crown will feel like a normal tooth. You also won't have to be any gentler with the crown than you do with your normal teeth.

Dental technology like CEREC crowns have been making breakthroughs in dentistry! Come read more if you'd like to learn more about the newest tech in dentistry!

While the benefits of getting a CEREC crown far outweigh any drawbacks, there are a few disadvantages if you opt for a CEREC crown.

Not all dentists are trained with this new technology, nor do their practices have the equipment to mill a CEREC crown on-site within a single appointment. 

If you know you may possibly need a crown placed over a tooth, you may have to search around for a dental practice that provides this procedure if your current dentist does not offer CEREC crowns as an option. 

Getting the color of your CEREC crown to match the rest of your teeth comes down to the dentist's skill. While getting a perfect color match is possible, if your dentist has not mastered the art of picking the right color, you may be less than satisfied with the results. While a CEREC crown that is slightly off-color won't be noticeable in the back of your mouth, the smallest variation of color can be noticeable if you need a crown on your front teeth. 

While CEREC crowns are incredibly convenient, there are still situations where a traditional crown is better suited. If your tooth has a crack, the camera used to make a digital impression of your tooth will not be able to see under the gum line. If you place a CEREC crown on top of a tooth with a deep crack that extends under the gums, the CEREC crown will not fit properly. 

CEREC crowns are tough, but compared to metal crowns, a CEREC crown can end up with more wear and tear from everyday use. It can still last as long as a traditional crown, but it may start to show its age earlier.

To find a dentist near you that provides CEREC crowns as an alternative to traditional crowns, use the Find a Dentist tool by Smile Generation. It is an easy way to find the perfect dentist that offers all the services you seek to keep your mouth happy and healthy.