cerec
Dentist Silverlake LA
Same Day Crowns with CEREC In-Office Milling.
Your crown Designed, Milled, and Placed - All in 1 visit
Getting a dental crown used to mean two appointments, two rounds of anesthesia, and two weeks of wearing a temporary crown while your permanent one was made in an off-site lab. At Silverlake Dental Group, we’ve eliminated all of that.
Patients from Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Echo Park, Atwater Village, and Glassell Park love the convenience of getting a permanent crown in a single visit — no need to take two days off work.
Using our in-office CEREC milling system, Dr. Barkhordar can design, mill, and place your permanent ceramic crown in a single appointment — typically in about two hours. You come in with a damaged tooth and leave with a finished, permanent restoration the same day. No temporaries. No second visit. No waiting.
What is CEREC?
CEREC — which stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics — is an advanced dental technology system that combines 3D digital scanning, computer-aided design (CAD), and an in-office milling machine to fabricate high-quality ceramic restorations on-site.
Instead of taking a physical impression of your tooth, sending it to an outside laboratory, waiting 10–14 days for the crown to be fabricated, and returning for a second appointment, everything happens in our office in one visit:
- Your tooth is scanned digitally in 3D
- Dr. Barkhordar designs your crown on-screen using CAD software
- The design is sent to our CEREC milling unit
- The crown is precision-milled from a solid block of high-quality ceramic
- The crown is polished, glazed, and bonded to your tooth — permanently
The entire process from scan to cemented crown takes approximately 90 minutes to two hours.
What Makes CEREC Crowns Different?
Milled from solid ceramic — not built up in layers
CEREC crowns are milled from a single solid block of high-strength dental ceramic. This manufacturing method produces a restoration that is dense, uniform, and highly resistant to fracture — in many ways stronger and more durable than a layered porcelain crown built by hand in a lab. The material used is the same grade of ceramic used in high-quality laboratory restorations.
No temporary crown
Traditional crown procedures require a temporary crown to protect the tooth while the permanent one is being made. Temporaries are bulky, can come off, are often sensitive, and require you to be careful about what you eat for two weeks. With CEREC, there is no temporary — your permanent crown goes in the same day.
Precise digital fit
The 3D digital scan that drives CEREC design is significantly more accurate than a physical impression. Physical impressions can distort, especially in tight spaces or with moisture. A digital scan captures the exact geometry of your tooth and surrounding teeth with sub-millimeter precision — resulting in a crown that fits better from the start, with less chairside adjustment needed.
Same-day completion
For patients with busy schedules, this is often the most compelling benefit. One appointment instead of two. Half the time in the dental chair. No need to take two separate days off work.
What Can CEREC Be Used For?
Our in-office CEREC milling system can fabricate a range of ceramic restorations, including:
- Dental crowns — Full coverage restorations for damaged, decayed, or root canal treated teeth
- Onlays — Partial coverage restorations for teeth that don’t require a full crown
- Inlays — Restorations that fit inside the cusps of a back tooth
- Veneers — Thin ceramic facings for front teeth
- Implant crowns — The visible crown portion attached to a dental implant
In most cases, if you need a ceramic restoration, we can make it here in the office the same day.
The CEREC Process: Step by Step
Step 1 — Preparation Dr. Barkhordar prepares the tooth — removing decay, old filling material, or damaged structure — exactly as in a traditional crown procedure. Local anesthesia is used so you feel nothing.
Step 2 — Digital Scan Instead of a traditional impression, we use a handheld 3D digital scanner to capture a precise model of your prepared tooth and the surrounding teeth. The scan takes just a few minutes and is completely comfortable — no trays, no impression material, no gagging.
Step 3 — Crown Design The digital scan is imported into CEREC’s CAD design software, where Dr. Barkhordar designs your crown on-screen. The software proposes an initial design based on the surrounding tooth anatomy, which Dr. Barkhordar refines to ensure perfect fit, proper bite contacts, and ideal aesthetics. You can see the design before milling begins.
Step 4 — Milling The finalized design is sent wirelessly to our in-office CEREC milling unit. The crown is precision-milled from a solid ceramic block in approximately 15–20 minutes while you relax in the chair.
Step 5 — Finishing The milled crown is polished, stained if needed to precisely match the color of your natural teeth, and glazed — giving it a smooth, lifelike surface and final strength.
Step 6 — Placement Dr. Barkhordar checks the fit and bite, makes any final adjustments, and permanently bonds the crown to your tooth. You’re done.
Is a CEREC Crown as Good as a Lab Crown?
Yes — and in some ways better. CEREC crowns are made from the same class of dental ceramic used in high-quality laboratory restorations. Research published in dental literature consistently shows that CEREC CAD/CAM restorations are clinically comparable to lab-fabricated crowns in fit, longevity, and patient satisfaction.
The primary advantage of a lab crown is that a skilled dental ceramist can add hand-painted characterization for highly aesthetic front-tooth cases where color matching is extremely nuanced. For most crown cases — particularly back teeth and straightforward front tooth restorations — CEREC produces an excellent, durable, beautiful result with the added benefit of same-day delivery.
Dr. Barkhordar will advise you on whether a CEREC same-day crown or a lab-fabricated crown is the better choice for your specific case. In many situations, CEREC is the clear winner for both quality and convenience.
Is a CEREC Crown as Good as a Lab Crown?
Yes — and in some ways better. CEREC crowns are made from the same class of dental ceramic used in high-quality laboratory restorations. Research published in dental literature consistently shows that CEREC CAD/CAM restorations are clinically comparable to lab-fabricated crowns in fit, longevity, and patient satisfaction.
The primary advantage of a lab crown is that a skilled dental ceramist can add hand-painted characterization for highly aesthetic front-tooth cases where color matching is extremely nuanced. For most crown cases — particularly back teeth and straightforward front tooth restorations — CEREC produces an excellent, durable, beautiful result with the added benefit of same-day delivery.
Dr. Barkhordar will advise you on whether a CEREC same-day crown or a lab-fabricated crown is the better choice for your specific case. In many situations, CEREC is the clear winner for both quality and convenience.
When is CEREC the Right Choice?
CEREC same-day crowns are an excellent option for:
- Teeth with moderate to significant decay that require a crown
- Teeth that have just had a root canal and need immediate protection
- Cracked or fractured teeth needing same-day restoration
- Replacing old metal or PFM (porcelain-fused-to-metal) crowns with tooth-colored ceramic
- Patients who cannot make multiple appointments or have traveled from out of the area
- Anyone who wants to minimize time in the dental chair
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
How long does a CEREC crown last? CEREC crowns are made from high-strength dental ceramic and are designed to last 15 years or more with proper care — comparable to traditional lab-fabricated crowns. Longevity depends on the location of the tooth, your bite, and how well you maintain it with regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings.
Does a CEREC crown look natural? Yes. CEREC ceramic blocks are available in a range of shades that closely match natural tooth color. Dr. Barkhordar selects the appropriate shade and can add custom staining and glazing to achieve a natural, seamless result. For most patients, a CEREC crown is indistinguishable from a natural tooth.
Is the procedure any different from a regular crown? The tooth preparation is identical. The difference is that instead of a physical impression and a temporary crown, you get a digital scan and a permanent crown milled while you wait. The experience is actually more comfortable — no impression trays, no temporary to worry about, and only one injection of anesthesia instead of two.
Can CEREC crowns be used on front teeth? Yes, though the decision depends on the specific case. For most front tooth restorations, CEREC produces excellent aesthetic results. For cases requiring extremely nuanced color matching — such as single front tooth crowns next to natural teeth with complex characterization — Dr. Barkhordar may recommend a lab-fabricated crown to achieve the most precise aesthetic outcome. He’ll advise you honestly at your appointment.
Is CEREC covered by insurance? Most dental insurance plans cover CEREC crowns the same way they cover traditional crowns — as a standard dental crown procedure. Coverage varies by plan, and we verify your benefits before treatment so you know exactly what to expect.
What if I’ve already had a temporary crown placed elsewhere? We can still fabricate your permanent crown in our office. Let us know your situation when you call and we’ll accommodate you.
Ready for a crown without the wait? Call Silverlake Dental Group at (323) 922-6016 or request an appointment online. Same-day crowns available Monday through Friday.
From a family of dentists with quality care
We would be happy to work with you!