Same-Day Dental Crowns in Long Island: CEREC® Technology Explained

Need a crown fast? Learn about same-day CEREC® crowns in Long Island - how they work, benefits, costs, and if you're a candidate for one-visit crowns.

The End of the Two-Week Wait

For decades, getting a dental crown followed a frustratingly slow script. You would come in for a long appointment to have your tooth drilled and take a messy, goopy impression. Then, you would be sent home with a fragile plastic "temporary" crown for two weeks while an off-site lab made your real tooth. If that temporary fell off (which often happened), you had to rush back to the dentist. Finally, weeks later, you would return for a second shot to get the permanent crown cemented.

Living in Long Island is busy enough without needing multiple appointments for a single tooth. That is why Meadowbrook Dental Care has invested in the future of dentistry.

With CEREC® technology, we have completely eliminated the middleman and the waiting period. No temporary crowns. No messy impressions. No second visit. We can restore your damaged tooth with a beautiful, permanent ceramic crown in a single appointment at our Mineola and Plainview offices.

What is CEREC® Technology?

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. It is a high-tech system that combines 3D imaging, CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) software, and an on-site milling machine to create dental restorations right here in our office.

Essentially, it allows us to act as the dental lab. Instead of shipping your case out to a technician miles away, our doctors use this advanced technology to design and create your custom crown while you wait comfortably in the chair.

How the Same-Day Process Works

How do we condense two weeks of work into a single visit? The process is seamless and fascinating to watch.

Digital Scanning (No Goop!): After preparing your tooth, we use a specialized Omnicam camera to take a precise 3D digital scan of your mouth. There is no need for that gag-inducing impression putty. The image appears instantly on our computer screen.
3D Design: Using the CEREC software, the doctor designs your custom crown right in front of your eyes. We adjust the shape, size, and bite alignment to ensure it fits perfectly with your other teeth.
In-House Milling: Once the design is approved, we send the data to our on-site milling unit. This machine takes a solid block of color-matched ceramic and carves your crown with incredible precision in about 15-20 minutes.
Placement: The doctor polishes the new crown, checks the fit, and bonds it permanently to your tooth. You walk out with your smile fully restored.

The Benefits of One-Visit Dentistry

The advantages of choosing a CEREC crown go far beyond just saving time.

Convenience: You only need to take time off work or find childcare for one appointment.
Comfort: By skipping the physical impressions and the temporary crown phase, we eliminate the two most common complaints patients have about the traditional process.
Aesthetics and Strength: CEREC crowns are made from high-quality ceramic blocks that are free from the internal flaws sometimes found in hand-layered lab crowns. The material is translucent and mimics natural tooth enamel perfectly. Plus, because there is no metal core, you will never see that unsightly gray line at your gums.
Preservation: The digital precision allows us to be more conservative, often saving more of your natural tooth structure than traditional methods.

Is a Same-Day Crown Right for You?

While CEREC is an incredible tool, it isn't the solution for every single case (some highly complex front-tooth aesthetics or bridges may still require a master lab technician). However, for the vast majority of back teeth, premolars, and broken molars, it is the ideal solution.

Don't let a busy schedule stop you from fixing a broken or decayed tooth. With CEREC technology at Meadowbrook Dental Care, you are just one appointment away from a healthy smile.

Experience the speed and comfort of modern dentistry. Contact us today to schedule your same-day crown consultation at our Mineola or Plainview office!

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