Same-Day CEREC Crowns

What Is a CEREC Crown? 

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. In plain terms, it means we can design, mill, and place a permanent ceramic crown in a single appointment — right here in our Oak Bay office. Traditional crowns require two appointments: one to prepare the tooth and take an impression (or a scan), and a second two to three weeks later to place the permanent crown. In between, you wear a temporary that can come loose or feel uncomfortable. With CEREC, that entire process happens in one visit. 

How It Works 

We begin by preparing the tooth and taking a digital scan — no messy impression material, no gagging on trays. (In some cases if the tooth is at the very back, or if you have limited opening, the scanner will not be able to capture the area well enough, so we will need to do a traditional crown and an impression instead.) That scan feeds into our in-office milling machine, which carves your crown from a solid block of ceramic while you wait. Once it's ready, we bond it in place and check your bite. Start to finish, most appointments take about two hours. 

Is the Quality the Same? 

Yes. CEREC crowns are made from high-quality dental ceramic that is strong, natural-looking, and colour-matched to your surrounding teeth. They are a permanent restoration, not a compromise. 

Who Needs a Crown? 

Crowns are recommended when a tooth is cracked, severely decayed, has a large failing filling, or has been treated with a root canal. If a crown has been recommended for you, we're happy to discuss whether same-day treatment is appropriate for your situation.