Remember the last time you needed a dental crown? If your experience was like most, it probably went something like this: an appointment to prep the tooth, a mouthful of goopy impression material, a temporary crown that felt awkward, and then a two-week wait while a lab made the permanent one. Then, a second appointment to finally have the real crown placed. At Mattson Hellickson Dental, we don’t think it has to be that complicated.
That’s why we use CEREC technology, short for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. Fancy name, simple result: you can get a strong, beautiful, custom-made dental crown in a single visit.
How It Works
The process starts the same way any crown treatment does. Dr. Mattson, Dr. Hellickson, or Dr. Daraee will prepare your tooth by removing any decay and shaping it to accept the crown. But that’s where the similarities to the old way end.
Instead of packing your mouth with that thick, gag-inducing impression material, we use a special digital camera to take a highly detailed 3D image of your tooth and the surrounding area. It’s quick, comfortable, and way more accurate than the old putty method.
That digital model gets sent straight to a computer workstation right here in our Beaverton office. Using CAD/CAM technology (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing), our team designs your custom crown on-screen. We can adjust the shape, color, and fit until it’s absolutely perfect.
That digital design is sent to an in-office milling machine. The machine carves your crown out of a single block of high-quality ceramic material. About fifteen minutes later, your crown is ready. No waiting. No temporary crown that might pop off. No second appointment.
Why CEREC Matters for Busy Beaverton Families
We know how packed your schedule is. Between work, kids’ activities, and everything else, taking time off for one appointment is hard enough. Two appointments? That’s a real challenge.
With CEREC, you come in, we take care of your tooth, and you could leave the same day with a fully functional, permanent crown. You’re not looking at your calendar trying to squeeze in another visit. You’re not worrying about whether the temporary crown will hold up through the weekend. You just get back to your life.
For parents, that means one trip to the dentist instead of two. No arranging extra childcare, no missing more work. For anyone with a busy schedule, it means less stress and more time for the things that actually matter.
The Quality You Expect
Some people worry that a same-day crown might not be as good as one from a lab. But CEREC crowns are made from high-quality ceramic that’s durable, natural-looking, and designed to last. The digital design process is actually more precise than traditional impressions, which can distort or have bubbles. And because we can see the crown on a screen before it’s milled, we can make sure it fits perfectly and matches your surrounding teeth beautifully.
For many patients, the results are better than what they’d get with the traditional two-step process.
More Than Just Crowns
While crowns are one of the most common uses, CEREC technology can also create other restorations like inlays and onlays. It’s part of our commitment at Mattson Hellickson Dental to bring you the latest tools and techniques that make dental care faster, easier, and more comfortable.
Not every tooth is a candidate for a same-day crown, of course. We’ll always evaluate your specific situation and recommend what’s best for you. But for many patients, CEREC is a fantastic option that eliminates the hassle of a two-visit process.
A Smarter Way to Protect Your Smile
If you’ve been told you need a crown, or if you’ve been putting off treatment because you didn’t want to deal with the time commitment, we’d love to talk with you. A crown is one of the best ways to protect a damaged or weakened tooth, and with CEREC, it doesn’t have to disrupt your life.
Ready to see what a one-visit crown looks like? Call our Beaverton office at 503-308-7664. We’re here to make dental care work for you.
