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The practical advantage of CEREC is removing the temporary crown stage — no second appointment, no impression material, and no fortnight spent avoiding hard food while a temporary works loose. The crown is designed, milled and fitted while you are in the chair.
CEREC is a system for designing and manufacturing ceramic restorations in the practice. Your prepared tooth is scanned digitally, the crown designed on screen, and then milled from a solid ceramic block by an in-practice milling unit. It is then characterised, glazed and cemented at the same appointment.
The material is a solid ceramic block rather than layered porcelain. That makes it strong and well suited to back teeth. For front teeth where layered translucency and fine characterisation matter most, a laboratory-made crown may still give the better aesthetic result, and we will say so where that applies.
CEREC suits patients wanting to complete treatment in one visit, and cases where a solid ceramic restoration is clinically appropriate.
The whole sequence happens in one appointment, typically over a couple of hours.
We confirm a crown is the right restoration and that a same-day ceramic is appropriate for the tooth in question.
Under local anaesthetic, decay or failed restoration is removed and the tooth shaped to receive the crown.
The prepared tooth, the opposing teeth and your bite are scanned. No impression material is used.
The crown is designed on screen against the scan, matching the contour and contacts of the original tooth and the opposing bite.
The crown is milled from a ceramic block, then stained and glazed to match the surrounding teeth.
The crown is tried in, the fit and margins checked, the bite adjusted and the crown cemented. You leave with the final restoration in place.
The risks are essentially those of any crown, with the material characteristics of solid ceramic to consider.
Possible Risks:
Recovery and Aftercare:
Usually a couple of hours from preparation to cementation, including milling time. It is a longer single appointment rather than two shorter ones.
We will give you a realistic time when booking so you can plan the day.
For most back teeth, yes — the ceramic is strong and the fit is precise. For front teeth where layered translucency and fine characterisation matter, a laboratory crown may still produce a better aesthetic result.
We recommend based on the tooth rather than the technology, and will tell you when a laboratory crown is the better choice.
Fees are broadly comparable. The saving is in appointments and time rather than money.
Your written quote will set out the fee before treatment begins.
Most can, but not all. Heavily broken-down teeth may need a build-up or root canal therapy first, and some front teeth are better served by laboratory work.
We assess this before recommending the approach.
Choosing Civic Gentle Dental Care standard means partnering with a practice built on deep clinical expertise and a genuine dedication to patient care.
Our dedicated team provides personalised treatment plans, utilising modern techniques alongside our specialised in-house ceramic laboratory. We focus on delivering optimal aesthetic and functional outcomes for your smile, while ensuring your entire experience is gentle, transparent, and completely professional.
We offer interest-free payment plans to help make your treatment more manageable.
*Subject to finance approval, fees and charged
Looking to explore more Restorative Dentistry or oral health options?
You may also be interested in:
Laboratory-made crowns for cases needing layered ceramics.
Where the tooth cannot be saved.
Often required before crowning a damaged tooth.
For teeth with sufficient remaining structure.
Need a crown and short on time?
Book an assessment at Civic Gentle Dental Care in Canberra City to find out whether a same-day crown suits your tooth.
