Dr. Robert Gauthier is the first and only dentist in Northborough, MA, with CEREC and CEREC InLab advanced dental technology. CEREC InLab is a commercial laboratory-grade version of CEREC. The CEREC InLab software and milling center can fabricate implant restorations, dental bridges, highly esthetic dental crowns, and porcelain veneers.
The CEREC InLab enables Dr. Gauthier to have the equivalent of a commercial dental laboratory right in the office. It can minimize turnaround times for our patients with larger cases.
With CEREC InLab, Dr. Gauthier and his team have control over restoration design and esthetics. He doesn’t need to communicate the fine details to a dental laboratory technician. Dr. Gauthier can deliver beautiful and lifelike restorations on a consistent basis.
We can customize your restoration. Our office uses a wide array of ceramic stains, colors, and glazes. We have a ceramic oven right in the office so that we can create a seamless and natural-looking restoration every time.
CEREC produces indirect ceramic restorations using CAD/CAM. We can create dental crowns, caps, inlays, onlays, and dental veneers in one visit.
How Does CEREC Work?
The Benefits of CEREC Dentistry
Traditional restorative procedures often need multiple visits with messy impressions, extensive preparation, and uncomfortable temporaries. You often need to wait for an outside laboratory to produce the restoration.
With the CEREC system, we can restore your teeth in a single visit. First, we prepare the treated tooth. Then, we use a special camera that takes an impression of the tooth to record its exact specifications.
We digitally prepare the restoration with the CAD/CAM software. Then, we send it to a milling machine that creates the restoration with the finest, tooth-colored ceramic material.
The restoration is ready and checked for a perfect fit in just a few minutes. Then, we permanently bond or cement it to your tooth and gently polish it to a beautiful shine.
CEREC uses materials that closely match the composition of natural tooth structure. The ceramic materials are strong and tooth-colored to restore teeth to their natural strength, beauty, and function.
CEREC Dentistry Before and After
CEREC FAQs
Learn more about CEREC and CEREC dental crowns in Northborough, MA, with answers to these common questions:
Is CEREC as durable as traditional crowns?
When properly cared for, CEREC crowns are just as strong as traditional lab-made crowns. These one-visit crowns are made from high-quality ceramic materials that can withstand normal chewing forces.
Today’s CEREC blocks use advanced ceramics that are both strong and natural-looking. They won’t chip or crack under normal use.
Does it hurt to get a CEREC crown?
Getting a CEREC crown involves little to no pain for most patients. First, we will numb the treated area with local anesthesia. You’ll be awake but shouldn’t feel any sharp pain.
You may feel slight pressure when we prepare your tooth, but the numbing medication will prevent pain. The digital scanning part of the CEREC process is also comfortable.
Am I a good candidate for CEREC?
You could be a good fit for CEREC if you need a single crown, inlay, or onlay and want to complete the treatment in one visit. The system works best for patients with enough healthy tooth structure to support the restoration. We may not recommend CEREC if you have large restorations, grind your teeth, or have gum disease. We will treat problems like cavities or gum disease before treatment.
How long does it take to get a CEREC crown?
You can get a CEREC crown in just one dental visit that may last 2 or more hours total. First, it takes 30 45 minutes to numb and prepare the tooth. Then it takes 5 minutes to complete your digital scan.
The computer then designs your crown while you wait over 10 to 15 minutes. The machine creates your custom crown from a ceramic block in 15 to 30 minutes. Finally, we check the fit and make adjustments before we permanently bond the crown to your tooth in about 30 minutes.
How long does a CEREC restoration last?
CEREC restorations like crowns, inlays, and onlays can last 10 to 15 years. Their lifespan compares well to traditional lab-made dental work. CEREC restorations use high-quality ceramic materials that bond strongly to your natural tooth structure.
Do CEREC crowns look natural?
Yes, CEREC crowns are designed to look completely natural in your mouth. The ceramic material used matches the color and light-reflecting properties of tooth enamel. CEREC crowns in our Worcester office blend in seamlessly with your surrounding teeth.
Our dentist uses color-matching technology to select a shade that perfectly matches your natural teeth. The computer design system then creates a crown with the same shape as your original tooth. The result looks so realistic that most people won’t be able to tell which tooth has the crown.
Can I get CEREC for multiple teeth in a single visit?
Yes, but the main limitation is the amount of time you want to spend in the dental chair. While the CEREC system can design and mill several crowns, each tooth still requires preparation time. Getting two crowns might add about an hour to your appointment, while three or four could make the visit longer.
Treatment is faster if the teeth that need crowns are right next to each other. Teeth in different areas of your mouth may need more time.
The condition of each tooth also affects preparation time. It can take longer to prepare damaged teeth for crowns. Some patients prefer to get multiple crowns over two visits.
Can I get CEREC for veneers?
CEREC works well for veneers when you need a single visit. You can get veneers the same day instead of waiting weeks for lab-made ones. But not all veneer cases are right for CEREC. You may need a traditional lab for complex smile makeovers that involve many teeth.
Get a Same-Day Crown
Do you want to learn more about CEREC dental crown treatment in our Northborough, MA, office? Call us at (508) 506-1691. You can also request an appointment with us online.We use CEREC to make restorations like dental crowns in Worcester, Shrewsbury, and Westborough, MA.