If you have a busy life, you probably don't want to spend more time than necessary in the dentist's office. Luckily, CEREC crowns and restorations offer same-day results. Dr. Jeffery Johnson and  Dr. Jody Johnson in St. Louis, MO, discuss the CEREC difference.

No more temporary crowns

When you receive a porcelain crown, one visit must be dedicated to preparing your tooth and taking an impression of your mouth. Because your new crown must be created in a dental laboratory, you'll need to cover your tooth with a temporary crown while you wait for the lab to complete the permanent crown. In most cases, you'll wait two weeks or more until you can receive your new crown and must return to the office for another appointment.

CEREC crowns only require one visit. During your visit to Drs. Jeffrey and Lori Johnson's St. Louis office, your tooth will be prepared and an impression of your teeth will be made. The CEREC system uses digital images to make impressions. After uploading the image to the CEREC software program, the dentists will have all the information they need to design your new crown.

Once the crown is ready to be produced, the design information will be sent to a milling machine located in the office. The machine takes a block of ceramic and creates a crown that blends in with the rest of your smile perfectly. In just about a half-hour after your impression is made, you'll have a brand new crown.

Not just crowns

The CEREC system can also be used for other restorations, such as inlays, onlays and veneers. Inlays and onlays are used when you need a very large filling. Inlays fit inside the edges of your teeth, while onlays extend beyond them. These restorations are usually created in a lab, but thanks to CEREC, they can now be made dental offices. Since CEREC inlays and onlays are tooth-colored, no one will even know that you have a filling. CEREC can also be used to design and create veneers, thin, tooth-shaped shells that are attached to the fronts of teeth to cover flaws.

Could you benefit from a CEREC crown or restoration? Call Drs. Jeffrey and Lori Johnson in St. Louis, MO, at (314) 427-7400 to schedule your appointment.