Yes. A CEREC crown is milled from a single solid block of high-quality dental ceramic, which makes it strong and stable, without the weak seams that can form in layered materials. Across more than 20 years of clinical studies, CEREC restorations have performed on par with traditional lab-fabricated crowns in both longevity and everyday function.

In practical terms, that means you can bite, chew, and grind with a CEREC crown exactly as you would with a lab-made one, and you care for it the same way with regular brushing, flossing, and checkups. The single-visit convenience of CEREC costs you nothing in strength or lifespan.

From preparation through bonding, a typical CEREC appointment runs about one hour, and everything happens in a single visit. That hour covers each stage of the process:

• Preparing the tooth and taking a quick digital scan in place of a putty impression
• Designing your restoration on screen to match your exact bite and tooth anatomy
• Milling the crown from a ceramic block, usually about 15 to 20 minutes
• Bonding and polishing the finished crown into place

Because the milling happens right there while you wait, there is no second appointment weeks later and no temporary crown to manage in between. You arrive with a damaged tooth and leave the same hour with a permanent CEREC restoration.

In most cases, yes. Because a CEREC crown meets the same clinical standards as a traditional crown and uses comparable ceramic materials, most dental insurance plans cover it just as they would a lab-made crown. Coverage levels do vary from plan to plan, so the exact amount reimbursed depends on your individual benefits.

Before we begin any treatment at our Lisle office, we verify your insurance benefits and give you a clear cost estimate, so there are no surprises. If you have an out-of-pocket balance, our financing page lists payment options that can spread the cost into manageable monthly payments.

Most crown, inlay, onlay, and veneer situations are an excellent match for CEREC, which covers the large majority of the single-tooth restorations we place. If you need one tooth rebuilt or a cracked tooth capped, CEREC is very often the right tool for the job.

There are a few exceptions. Very large bridges, teeth that call for special preparation, or cases with complex bite or gum considerations may be better served by a traditional lab-fabricated restoration. Drs. Brammeier and Ericson will examine your specific tooth and recommend whichever approach gives you the strongest, longest-lasting result, whether that is CEREC or a lab-made crown.

The finished result is virtually identical: both give you a strong, natural-looking ceramic restoration matched to your surrounding teeth. What differs is how you get there. A CEREC crown is designed and milled right in our office and bonded into place during a single visit.

A traditional crown, by contrast, relies on an outside dental laboratory. Your tooth is prepared and fitted with a temporary crown at the first appointment, then you return 2 to 3 weeks later once the lab has finished the permanent one. CEREC removes that waiting period, the temporary crown, and the second appointment entirely, which is why so many patients choose it when a tooth needs a crown.

No, and that is one of the biggest advantages of CEREC. With a traditional crown your tooth is prepared at the first visit and covered with a temporary crown while an outside lab makes the permanent one, which means a second appointment two to three weeks later. A CEREC crown skips that step entirely.

Because the crown is designed and milled right in our office, Drs. Brammeier and Ericson prepare the tooth, place your custom ceramic crown, and send you home with the finished restoration in a single visit. There is no temporary crown to look after, no second numbing appointment, and no waiting period where a fragile temporary could loosen or fall off.