CEREC is a chairside CAD/CAM technology that allows same-visit fabrication of high-quality ceramic dental restorations. Rather than sending impressions to an off-site laboratory and waiting two or more weeks for a crown, inlay, onlay, or veneer, CEREC allows our team to design, mill, and place a custom ceramic restoration in a single appointment. For patients with busy schedules or those who prefer to complete treatment in fewer visits, CEREC represents a meaningful advance in restorative convenience and efficiency.
The CEREC process begins with a digital optical scan of the prepared tooth—eliminating the need for traditional putty impressions that many patients find uncomfortable. The scan data is used to design the restoration using specialized CAD software, allowing the clinician to precisely engineer the shape, contacts, and bite surface of the new crown or restoration. Once the design is approved, a ceramic block in the appropriate shade is milled by an in-office machine, producing a precisely shaped restoration in a matter of minutes.
The milled restoration is then adjusted as needed, polished or glazed, and bonded or cemented into place—all within the same appointment. Patients leave with a completed restoration rather than a temporary crown and the expectation of a return visit.
CEREC is used to create a variety of tooth-colored ceramic restorations including full crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers. It is particularly well suited for teeth that have moderate to significant decay, cracked or fractured teeth that need full coverage, and teeth with failing or outdated restorations that require replacement. The ceramic materials used are durable, esthetically excellent, and match the optical properties of natural tooth structure closely.
Beyond the obvious convenience of completing treatment in one visit, CEREC eliminates the need for a temporary crown, which can sometimes come loose, cause sensitivity, or break before the final restoration is ready. Patients spend less time in the dental chair overall, require fewer injections of local anesthetic across appointments, and can have their treated tooth fully protected on the same day the preparation is completed.
At Cameron Park Dental Care, we use CEREC technology to provide efficient, high-quality ceramic restorations without the wait. If you have been told you need a crown or other restoration, call us at (530) 676-0400 or contact us online to learn whether a same-day CEREC restoration is right for your situation.
CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) is an in-office CAD/CAM system that allows dental restorations to be designed, milled, and placed in a single appointment. The process begins with a digital scan of the prepared tooth, which is used to create a three-dimensional model on a computer. The clinician designs the restoration digitally, then a milling unit carves it from a ceramic block in about 15 minutes.
After milling, the restoration is adjusted, polished or glazed, and bonded or cemented to the tooth—all without leaving the office. The result is a custom, tooth-colored restoration completed in one visit rather than two or more appointments with a lab fabrication period in between.
CEREC restorations are made from high-quality dental ceramic materials and have a strong clinical track record spanning decades of research and use. Studies have consistently shown that CEREC crowns perform comparably to traditionally fabricated ceramic crowns in terms of fit, longevity, and esthetics. The materials available for CEREC have continued to improve, with modern ceramics offering excellent strength and optical properties.
There are some cases—such as restorations requiring highly complex shade matching or specific material requirements—where a traditional laboratory may offer additional customization. For the vast majority of single crowns, inlays, and onlays, CEREC provides an excellent and clinically equivalent result with the significant advantage of same-day completion.
A CEREC appointment typically takes between 90 minutes and two hours for a single crown, though timing varies depending on the complexity of the case and the specific restoration being placed. The appointment includes tooth preparation, digital scanning, restoration design, milling, finishing, and final placement—all in one continuous visit. Patients sometimes find the in-office milling wait (about 15 minutes) to be the most novel part of the experience.
Compare this to a traditional crown process, which typically requires two appointments—one for preparation and temporization, one for final seating—with a two-week laboratory period in between, plus all the associated scheduling and injection of anesthetic at each visit. CEREC consolidates this into a single, efficient appointment.
No—this is one of the primary advantages of CEREC. Because the final restoration is completed on the same day as the tooth preparation, no temporary crown is needed. Temporaries can sometimes be uncomfortable, sensitive, or come loose before the final crown is ready. Eliminating the temporary eliminates these potential issues and the extra visit required for final crown placement.
The prepared tooth is fully protected by the permanent CEREC restoration before you leave the office. This is particularly valuable for patients who may find it difficult to schedule a second appointment or who have experienced problems with temporary crowns in the past.
CEREC restorations are milled from blocks of high-quality dental ceramic, typically leucite-reinforced ceramic, lithium disilicate (e-max), or zirconia, depending on the clinical requirements of the case. Lithium disilicate is popular for its excellent esthetics and good strength, making it suitable for most single crowns and inlays. Zirconia is used when maximum strength is required, such as for molars under heavy occlusal load.
The ceramic shade is selected to match the surrounding natural teeth as closely as possible. While chairside shade matching has some limitations compared to a laboratory technician with access to natural light and extensive staining tools, modern CEREC ceramics produce esthetically pleasing results that blend naturally in the mouth for the vast majority of cases.
A CEREC appointment involves the same local anesthesia as any crown preparation—the tooth and surrounding tissue are thoroughly numbed before preparation begins. The preparation itself should not be painful. The digital scanning process is comfortable, and the milling and placement steps involve no additional injections or discomfort.
Post-procedure sensitivity—some tenderness when biting or sensitivity to temperature—is normal for a few days after crown placement regardless of the fabrication method. This usually resolves within a week or two as the tooth settles. If sensitivity is significant or persistent beyond two weeks, contact our office for evaluation.
Yes—CEREC can be used for restorations on front teeth, including crowns and veneers. The ceramic materials available produce excellent optical properties—translucency, surface texture, and shade—that closely mimic natural enamel. For patients who need a single front tooth crown where shade matching to adjacent teeth is important, CEREC provides a very good result in most cases.
For complex esthetic cases involving multiple front teeth where highly customized layered porcelain is desired for optimal esthetic integration, a traditional laboratory may be considered. We will discuss the options and make a recommendation based on the specific esthetic demands of your case.
CEREC restorations have a strong longevity record comparable to traditionally fabricated ceramic crowns. With proper care—good oral hygiene, regular professional cleanings, and avoiding habits that damage crowns such as biting on ice or using teeth as tools—CEREC crowns routinely last 10 to 15 years or more. Some patients have CEREC restorations that have been in place for 20+ years without failure.
Longevity depends on the location of the tooth (molars experience more force than front teeth), the quality of the underlying tooth structure, the patient’s bite and any grinding or clenching habits, and the consistency of home care and professional maintenance. We factor all of these considerations into our restoration planning and recommendations.
CEREC crowns are covered by dental insurance in the same way as traditionally fabricated crowns—coverage is based on the type of restoration (crown, inlay, onlay) and its location in the mouth, not on the fabrication method. If your plan covers ceramic or porcelain crowns, it will typically cover a CEREC crown to the same extent. Coverage is usually subject to your plan’s deductible, waiting periods, and annual maximum.
Our front office team can verify your specific benefits before your appointment and provide a treatment estimate so you know what to expect. We are happy to assist with any documentation needed to support your insurance claim.
At Cameron Park Dental Care, we use CEREC technology to provide high-quality ceramic restorations efficiently and with minimal disruption to your schedule. We take pride in precise preparation, careful digital design, and thorough quality checks before final placement to ensure each restoration fits, functions, and looks exactly as it should.
If you need a crown, inlay, or onlay and are interested in completing treatment in a single visit, call us at (530) 676-0400 or reach out online. We will let you know if your case is a good candidate for CEREC and walk you through what to expect at your appointment.
