When you have to replace a tooth, it can seriously cut into your schedule. You have to go in for the initial visit to do the preparation work for the tooth and to create a mold. This mold then has to be sent off to a lab where technicians craft a crown for your tooth. You then schedule a second appointment to have your crown affixed. If you want to streamline the process, then you should look for a dentist who uses CEREC (ceramic reconstruction) crowns. 

What Is CEREC?

In an effort to speed up the process for receiving a crown, dentists have developed a chair-side procedure. The process begins with a dentist taking a map of your mouth with a digital camera. These images are then fed into a computer that processes them and designs a crown that matches the shape of your tooth. The computer then sends this design to a machine that crafts the crown on the spot. This whole process means that you can get a ceramic crown in one dental visit and not worry about how to fit a second appointment into your schedule. 

What Are the Main Benefits of CEREC?

Convenience and speed are important considerations when choosing a tooth, but you should also consider the overall quality of the crown you receive. Here are some other benefits of CEREC crowns:

1) CEREC crowns are made with ceramic resins which can be made to match the natural color of your teeth. They will definitely look more natural than gold or amalgam crowns and thus are an obvious choice for the front of your mouth at the very least. 

2) Ceramic crowns are at least as durable as gold and amalgam crowns. Thus, you don't have any more need to worry about breaking your crowns than you would if you chose another material. 

3) The digital mapping process used to create CEREC crowns is more comfortable for patients than the bulky molds used to make molds for traditional crowns. 

As you can see, when you choose a CEREC crown, you don't have to make a choice between comfort and convenience vs. quality. Instead, you get a beautiful crown that should mimic the durability, look, and feel of a natural tooth. The fact that you don't have to schedule two trips to the dentist is only the icing on the cake when it comes to the benefits of CEREC ceramic crowns. To schedule an appointment for one or to learn more, contact a dentist like James Tritton DDS PC.