I need a dental crown on a front tooth and am not too keen on having to go to two appointments before I get my permanent tooth. I know that CEREC crowns can give me a crown in one appointment and I like that idea. Is it much more expensive?
Carol
Dear Carol,
Same-day crowns are a great way to save time. It is wonderful to be able to walk out of the office with your restoration in place in just one appointment. They are made from all porcelain and can give you a wonderful restoration.
Do CEREC Crowns Cost More?
The machines that mill the crowns cost the dentists about six figures to purchase. That is a tidy sum. The good news is despite that, CEREC crowns do not usually have much of a cost difference between them and the traditional crowns that are milled in a lab. This is because while the dentist is making monthly payments on his machine that do set him or her back quite a bit, they are not paying the lab fees. While not completely evening out, they are close. That being said, bear in mind that every dentist sets their own fees. I cannot guarantee that every dentist will have similar fees.
CEREC Crowns on Front Teeth
One thing to be careful of if you are getting a CEREC crown on a front tooth is what dentist does the work. CEREC crowns are milled from a single block of porcelain. This means the dentist needs to have great artistic skills and understand how the stains and shadings will work so that the tooth will look natural. Without that, it will have a flat, uniform appearance while your natural teeth that surround it will have varying opacities.
I would look for a dentist who is AACD accredited. In order to reach that level, they had to pass stringent exams and demonstrate a high level of technical skill and artistry to an examination board using cases they have done themselves.
This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.
