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CEREC Same-Day Crowns in South Barrington, IL
Custom ceramic crowns designed, milled, and placed in a single visit. No temporary crown, no messy impressions, no second appointment two weeks later.
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CEREC Same-Day Crowns in South Barrington, IL
CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) is an in-office CAD/CAM system that allows us to design, fabricate, and place a custom ceramic crown in a single 90-120 minute visit. For most patients who need a crown, CEREC delivers the same clinical result as a traditional lab-made crown with significant advantages: no impression material, no temporary, no second visit, and no two-week wait. At South Barrington Dental Care, CEREC is our default approach for most crown cases.
The technology is not new — CEREC has been refined over three decades of clinical use — but modern CEREC systems produce restorations that match or exceed the quality of lab-made crowns for most indications. The ceramic blocks used for CEREC are high-strength materials (lithium disilicate, feldspathic porcelain, zirconia) that are color-matched to your natural teeth and polished to a natural-looking finish.
What CEREC Is
CEREC combines three technologies in one chair-side workflow:
- Digital scanning captures a 3D model of your prepared tooth
- CAD software lets us design the crown with precise fit and contour
- An on-site milling unit carves the crown from a solid block of ceramic in about 20 minutes
The result is a crown designed specifically for your tooth, fabricated while you wait, and bonded the same day.
Benefits
- Single appointment: No second visit, no return for crown delivery
- No impression material: Digital scanning replaces messy putty trays
- No temporary crown: Eliminates the risk of temporary crowns coming off or leaking
- Same-day function: Leave with a permanent crown ready to chew on
- Natural-looking ceramic: Color-matched and polished to match surrounding teeth
- Precise fit: Digital design reduces fit issues compared to some traditional methods
- Convenient: Particularly helpful for patients who travel or have demanding schedules
The CEREC Process Step by Step
Step 1: Exam and Planning. Dr. Allison Bartley confirms that a crown is appropriate and CEREC is the right approach.
Step 2: Anesthesia and Preparation. Local anesthesia numbs the tooth. The tooth is prepared using the same techniques as for a traditional crown.
Step 3: Digital Scan. An intraoral scanner captures a precise 3D model of the prepared tooth and surrounding teeth.
Step 4: Design on Screen. We design the crown on a monitor. Shape, contour, and contact with adjacent teeth are all refined before fabrication. You can see the design and give input on shape if desired.
Step 5: In-Office Milling. A solid block of ceramic is placed in the milling unit. A custom crown is carved from the block in about 20 minutes.
Step 6: Polishing and Staining. The milled crown is polished and (when appropriate) lightly stained to match surrounding teeth.
Step 7: Bonding. The crown is tried on, adjusted for fit and bite, and bonded to the tooth with strong resin cement.
Step 8: Final Check. Your bite is checked, the margins are smoothed, and you leave with a fully functional permanent crown.
Timeline
- Total appointment length: 90-120 minutes
- Preparation phase: 30-45 minutes
- Design phase: 10-20 minutes
- Milling phase: 15-25 minutes
- Bonding and finishing: 20-30 minutes
- Return to normal eating: Immediately
Cost Factors
CEREC crowns are priced the same as traditional lab-made crowns at our practice. You do not pay extra for the same-day convenience. Insurance coverage is identical: most PPO dental insurance plans cover 50-80% of crown costs after deductible when medically necessary.
For uninsured patients, financing through CareCredit and GreenSky is available. See our finance and insurance page.
Risks and Limitations
Not appropriate for every case. Some complex cases (severe bite problems, highly esthetic anterior cases, multi-unit bridges) still benefit from traditional lab fabrication with a master ceramist.
Post-op sensitivity. Like traditional crowns, mild cold sensitivity can occur for 1-2 weeks after placement.
Need for root canal. Rarely, a prepared tooth develops pulp inflammation and requires root canal therapy after crown placement.
Replacement eventually needed. CEREC crowns last comparably to traditional crowns (15-20+ years with proper care) but none last forever.
Technology limitations. CEREC excels at single-unit posterior and most anterior crowns. For very demanding cosmetic cases, traditional lab fabrication may produce slightly better esthetic outcomes.
Who Is a Good Candidate
- Patients who need a crown and want to finish in one visit
- Patients who travel or have demanding schedules
- Patients with strong gag reflexes (no impression material needed)
- Patients who need crown protection after a root canal
- Patients with cracked teeth or large failing fillings
- Most routine crown cases
Who Is NOT a Good Candidate
- Patients with complex bite problems requiring extensive equilibration
- Highly cosmetic anterior cases where a master ceramist can produce superior results
- Multi-unit bridges (traditional lab fabrication is often preferred)
- Patients with significant pre-existing conditions that make long appointments difficult
Comparison: CEREC vs. Traditional Lab-Made Crowns
CEREC: Single visit, no temporary, digital impression, in-office fabrication, same pricing, excellent for single-unit cases.
Traditional lab-made: Two visits 2-3 weeks apart, temporary crown between, lab-fabricated by a master ceramist, may produce slightly superior esthetics for demanding front-tooth cases or multi-unit bridges.
For most patients needing a single crown, CEREC is the better choice. For complex multi-unit cases or demanding front-tooth cosmetics, traditional lab-made may still be preferred.
Alternatives
- Traditional lab-made crowns for complex cases
- Composite fillings for smaller damage
- Dental bridges when a missing tooth is adjacent
- Dental implants when a tooth cannot be saved
Provider Authority
Dr. Allison Bartley has designed and placed CEREC crowns for years and uses the technology for most routine crown cases. The practice is equipped with a modern CEREC system including the latest scanning and milling technology. Read more about our technology.
Serving the Northwest Suburbs
Patients travel from South Barrington, Inverness, Streamwood, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Schaumburg, and Arlington Heights for same-day crowns.
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Common Questions About Same-Day CEREC Crowns
How long does a CEREC appointment take?
Plan for 90-120 minutes from the time you arrive to the time you leave with a permanent crown.
Are CEREC crowns as strong as traditional crowns?
Yes. The ceramic materials used (lithium disilicate and zirconia in particular) are as strong or stronger than traditional porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. Clinical studies show comparable longevity.
Does insurance cover CEREC crowns?
Yes, exactly the same as traditional crowns. Most PPO plans cover 50-80% after deductible when the crown is medically necessary.
Do CEREC crowns look as good as lab-made crowns?
For most cases, yes. For demanding highly-esthetic front-tooth cases, a master ceramist in a dental lab may produce slightly superior results. We discuss this during consultation and recommend the right approach for your specific tooth.
What if there is a problem with the crown later?
CEREC crowns can be adjusted, repolished, or replaced if needed. Because we fabricated it in-house, we can access the digital file if a replacement becomes necessary.
South Barrington Dental Care has been serving patients in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago for years and has built a strong local reputation for comprehensive, patient-centered care. Dr. Allison Bartley leads the practice and the all-female clinical team.
Schedule A Cerec Crown at South Barrington Dental Care
Serving patients across South Barrington, Inverness, Streamwood, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, Schaumburg, and Arlington Heights.
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