Dental Technology

CEREC Same-Day Crowns

Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) technology is used to create a 3D digital model of a prepared tooth. From that model, a restoration can be designed on-screen and milled in the office — often allowing crowns, and in some cases veneers or the repair of a failing filling, to be completed in a single visit rather than requiring a temporary restoration and a return trip. Learn more on our same-day crowns page.

How a Typical CEREC Procedure Works

A typical procedure starts with an examination of your tooth.

• Optical impression — once your tooth is prepared, we take a digital scan of the area with our intraoral scanner.
• Restoration design — the crown, filling, or veneer is designed on-screen based on your tooth’s shape and bite.
• Milling — the CEREC unit mills the restoration from a solid block of tooth-colored ceramic, typically within 8 to 18 minutes.
• Placement — we check the fit and bite, make any needed adjustments, and bond the restoration into place.

Digital X-Rays

Our office uses digital X-rays to evaluate your teeth and supporting structures. Digital X-rays use less radiation than traditional film X-rays, and because the images appear on a screen right away, we can review them with you and explain what we are seeing during your visit.

Intraoral Scanner

Our intraoral scanner captures detailed digital images of your teeth without traditional impression material. It is used across many of our services — from routine exams to veneers and clear aligners — to help us plan treatment accurately and show you what we see.