If you’ve ever been told you need a dental crown, you probably expected the usual routine: one appointment to prepare the tooth and take impressions, a temporary crown to wear for a week or two, and then a second appointment to fit the permanent one. That’s two visits, time off work, and a fragile temporary that you have to be careful with in the meantime.
At Smile Spot Mawson Lakes, we use CEREC technology to complete the entire process in a single visit.
What is CEREC?
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. It’s a computer-aided design and manufacturing system that allows your dentist to create a custom ceramic crown, inlay, onlay, or veneer right here in the practice — while you wait.
The technology has been used in dentistry for over 35 years and has undergone significant advancement. Today’s CEREC restorations are milled from high-quality ceramic blocks that closely mimic the appearance and strength of natural tooth structure.
The old way vs. CEREC
Traditional crowns typically require two appointments spread over one to three weeks. At the first visit, your dentist prepares the tooth and takes a physical impression using trays filled with putty material. A temporary crown is placed while the permanent one is made at an external laboratory. At the second visit, the temporary is removed and the permanent crown is cemented.
With CEREC, the process is consolidated into one visit of approximately 1.5 to 2 hours:
- Digital scan — a small intraoral camera takes a precise 3D image of the prepared tooth. No impression trays, no putty.
- Computer-aided design — your dentist designs the restoration on screen, shaping it to fit your bite and match surrounding teeth.
- In-practice milling — a milling unit carves the restoration from a solid block of ceramic in about 15 to 20 minutes. It’s then polished, colour-matched, and bonded into place.
You walk out with your permanent restoration.
Why this matters for busy people
This is where CEREC and Smile Spot’s evening hours come together. We’re open Monday to Thursday until 7pm, which means you can book a CEREC appointment after work, have your crown designed, milled, and placed, and head home with everything done — no time off work, no second visit to schedule.
For people juggling work, family, and everything else, eliminating that second appointment and the temporary crown period can make a real difference. It’s one less thing to manage.
What CEREC can create
CEREC isn’t limited to crowns. The technology can be used to fabricate:
- Crowns — full coverage restorations for damaged or weakened teeth
- Inlays — restorations that fit within the cusps of a back tooth, similar to a filling but more durable
- Onlays — larger restorations that cover one or more cusps
- Veneers — thin ceramic shells bonded to the front of teeth for cosmetic improvement
Your dentist will assess whether CEREC is appropriate for your particular situation.
The precision advantage
One of the advantages of CEREC is the digital scanning process. Traditional impressions can distort slightly as the material sets, or they may not capture every detail of the preparation. A digital scan, by contrast, creates a highly precise 3D model that can be reviewed and adjusted on screen before the restoration is milled.
This precision contributes to a well-fitting restoration, which in turn can help with long-term comfort and durability. That said, individual results depend on a range of factors — your dentist will discuss what to expect based on your specific case.
Is CEREC right for you?
Not every dental situation calls for CEREC. Some complex cases may still benefit from a laboratory-made restoration. Your dentist will honestly assess your situation and recommend the approach that suits you.
If you’d like to find out whether a same-day CEREC restoration could work for you, book a consultation online or call us on (08) 8258 0650. With evening appointments available, it’s easy to find a time that works.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding with treatment, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Individual results may vary.