CEREC technology lets us design, create, and fit your permanent crown in a single appointment. Walk in with a damaged tooth, walk out two hours later with a completed restoration. No temporaries, no return visits, no waiting weeks for laboratories.
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. It’s a mouthful, but what it means in practice is straightforward. We can make permanent porcelain crowns right here at our Canterbury practice on London Road whilst you wait.
Here’s how it works. We prepare your tooth, then scan it with a small digital camera instead of taking messy impressions. That scan feeds into CEREC’s computer software, where we design your crown on screen. Once the design is finalised, our in-surgery milling machine carves your crown from a solid block of porcelain in about 15-20 minutes. We then fit, adjust, and bond it permanently to your tooth.
The entire process takes roughly two hours from start to finish. You leave with a permanent crown that’s fully functional immediately.
Most practices send impressions to laboratories and fit temporary crowns whilst you wait 2-3 weeks for your permanent one to be made. CEREC eliminates that waiting period completely.
We’ve seen patients struggle with traditional crown procedures for years. CEREC solves several frustrations people genuinely hate about getting crowns.
If any of this resonates, CEREC might genuinely transform your crown experience.
Everything happens in one appointment: You book a single two-hour appointment. We prepare your tooth, design your crown, create it, and fit it permanently. You walk out completely finished. No return visits, no scheduling second appointments, no waiting periods.
No temporary crowns at all: This is huge for most patients. You avoid the entire temporary crown experience. The bulky feel, the worry about it coming off, the paranoia about eating certain foods, the weeks of being careful. Your permanent crown goes in immediately.
Digital scanning instead of impressions: We use a small digital camera to scan your tooth. It takes about 60 seconds and involves zero discomfort. No gagging on impression material. No struggling to breathe whilst putty sets in your mouth. Patients with sensitive gag reflexes find this genuinely life-changing.
Perfect for patients who travel: If you’re coming from Deal, Dover, Ramsgate, or Margate, one trip is far more manageable than two visits spaced weeks apart. CEREC makes specialised dental care accessible without requiring multiple journeys.
Strong, durable porcelain: CEREC crowns are milled from solid blocks of high-quality porcelain. They’re not weaker than laboratory-made crowns. Studies show comparable or better longevity. You’re not sacrificing quality for convenience.
Natural appearance: We shade-match CEREC crowns to your existing teeth carefully. Modern CEREC blocks come in multiple shades and translucencies. The final crown blends seamlessly with your natural teeth.
Immediate functionality: Your crown is ready to use immediately. You can eat normally the same day (though we suggest avoiding very hard foods for 24 hours whilst the bonding cement fully sets). No waiting weeks to chew properly on that side.
Fits busy schedules: Two hours total. That’s often achievable during a long lunch break or by taking a half-day off work. Compare that to traditional crowns requiring two separate appointments weeks apart, and CEREC suddenly makes crown treatment feasible when life is busy.
You see the entire process: There’s something reassuring about watching your crown being made. The design phase happens on screen in front of you. You can see the milling machine carving your crown. It demystifies the process completely
CEREC technology isn’t limited to crowns. We can create several different types of restorations same-day.
Crowns: Full coverage crowns for teeth with extensive damage, large fillings, or after root canal treatment. CEREC crowns protect and strengthen compromised teeth whilst looking completely natural. Best for teeth with large existing fillings that are breaking down, teeth broken from trauma or decay, and teeth weakened after root canal treatment.
Onlays: Partial crowns that cover the biting surface and some sides of your tooth but not the entire tooth. More conservative than full crowns when damage is moderate rather than severe. Best for teeth with moderate damage where a crown would be overkill but a filling isn’t strong enough. Preserves more natural tooth structure.
Inlays: Restorations that fit within the cusps (bumps) of your tooth, similar to fillings but made from porcelain for superior strength and longevity. Best for replacing large silver amalgam fillings with aesthetic porcelain alternatives, or repairing moderate decay in back teeth.
Veneers: Thin porcelain shells covering the front surface of teeth. CEREC can create veneers same-day, though for multiple veneers we often still use laboratory services for optimal aesthetic results. Best for single veneer replacements or repairs when laboratory wait times don’t suit your schedule.
During your consultation, we’ll assess your tooth and recommend which restoration suits your situation best. Not every case needs a full crown. Sometimes a more conservative onlay or inlay works perfectly well and preserves more of your natural tooth.
We examine your tooth and discuss whether a crown is needed and whether CEREC suits your situation. Not every case is appropriate for CEREC (we’ll be honest if laboratory-made crowns would serve you better), but most straightforward crown cases work brilliantly. You’ll understand what the two-hour appointment involves, see photos of CEREC crowns we’ve done previously, and receive clear pricing.
After numbing your tooth, we prepare it by removing decay and shaping it properly for a crown. This is identical to preparation for traditional crowns. We’re simply creating the ideal shape for your crown to fit over.
We scan your prepared tooth, the opposing tooth, and your bite using our small digital camera. You’ll keep your mouth open whilst we move the camera around capturing images, but it’s quick and completely comfortable. No impression material involved at all.
Using CEREC software, we design your crown on screen. This involves defining margins, shaping the crown to match your natural tooth anatomy, and ensuring proper contact with adjacent teeth. You can watch this process if you’re interested in seeing how it works.
We select a porcelain block matching your tooth shade, load it into the milling machine, and start the automated carving process. The machine mills your crown with remarkable precision. You’ll hear it working but can relax, read, or watch something on your phone during this stage.
Once milled, we stain and glaze the crown to match your natural teeth perfectly, then fire it briefly in a small oven. After that, we try it in your mouth, check the fit and bite carefully, make any tiny adjustments needed, then bond it permanently to your tooth using dental cement.
We verify your bite feels comfortable and everything is smooth. You leave with your completed crown, fully functional and permanent.
The timing above is approximate. Some cases go faster, complex cases take longer. We’ll never rush to meet an arbitrary timeline. The crown needs to be right.
Care for your CEREC crown exactly like natural teeth. Brush twice daily, floss daily, attend regular check-ups. Avoid chewing very hard foods (ice, hard sweets) on any teeth, crowned or natural. With proper care, CEREC crowns routinely last 10-15+ years.
How Much Does Same-Day Crown Treatment Cost?
CEREC same-day crown: £[price]
What’s included: Free consultation, digital scanning (no impressions), crown design and milling, permanent bonding, and all adjustments needed.
CEREC crowns cost the same or slightly more than traditional laboratory crowns at most practices, but you’re getting the convenience of one-visit treatment included in that price. You’re not paying a massive premium for the technology.
We offer interest-free payment plans if spreading the cost over several months makes treatment more accessible.
Compared to traditional crowns: Traditional laboratory crowns cost around £[price] here, so CEREC represents good value when you factor in the elimination of temporary crowns and second appointments.
Call 01227 765 851 for exact pricing and to discuss payment options.
We take the time to understand your medical history, assess your dental health, and create a treatment plan that works for your budget and timeline. Your smile is your story, and every story deserves individual attention.
Dr Banvir's MSc in Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry represents specialist-level training you'd typically need referrals to access. His three years working in Maxillo-Facial Surgery means he's handled complex cases most general dentists never see. There's a learning curve with CEREC technology, and we've been using it for years, refining our technique considerably.
Digital X-rays with minimal radiation. Intraoral cameras so you can see exactly what we're seeing. Comprehensive record-keeping that tracks changes over time. We invest in technology because it genuinely improves your experience and treatment outcomes. CEREC systems are expensive, but we brought it in because we'd seen how much patients struggled with traditional crown procedures.
Generations of Canterbury families have trusted us with their dental health. That kind of loyalty doesn't come from flashy marketing. It comes from delivering quality care consistently over decades.
Dental anxiety is far more common than you think. We work at your pace, explain everything before we begin, and create an environment where you feel in control. Many of our most nervous patients now attend regular check-ups without that familiar dread.
Looking for a dentist you can actually stick with?
Registering with A1 Dental Surgery means your care is planned properly, explained clearly, and delivered consistently over years. Not patched together across disconnected appointments at different practices.
Your first visit focuses on understanding your story. We assess your dental health, discuss your goals and concerns, and map out a realistic treatment plan that respects both your timeline and budget.
What registration means:
Yes. CEREC crowns are milled from solid blocks of high-quality porcelain, making them extremely strong. Research studies show CEREC crowns have comparable or sometimes better longevity than traditional laboratory crowns.
The milling process creates very dense, uniform porcelain without air bubbles or weak spots. With proper care, CEREC crowns routinely last 10-15+ years, which matches traditional crown lifespan. You're not sacrificing durability for convenience.
Approximately two hours from start to finish for most straightforward cases. This includes tooth preparation, digital scanning, crown design, milling, finishing, and permanent bonding.
Complex cases occasionally take longer if adjustments need more time. Simple cases sometimes finish slightly faster. We schedule two-hour appointments to ensure we have adequate time without rushing. You can bring headphones and something to read or watch during the milling phase when you're just waiting.
Yes, when done properly. We shade-match CEREC blocks carefully to your existing teeth. Modern CEREC porcelain comes in multiple shades and translucencies that mimic natural enamel well. For straightforward cases, CEREC crowns blend seamlessly with your smile.
For highly visible front teeth where aesthetics are absolutely critical, laboratory ceramists sometimes achieve marginally better results because they hand-layer porcelain and have more time for refinement. We'll be honest during consultation if laboratory crowns would give you better aesthetic results for your specific situation.
Yes, though it depends on your aesthetic expectations. CEREC works brilliantly for front teeth when shade matching is straightforward.
However, if you have complex shading, multiple colours within one tooth, or extremely high aesthetic demands, laboratory ceramists might achieve superior results through hand-layering techniques. During your consultation, we'll look at your specific front tooth and discuss honestly whether CEREC will meet your expectations or whether traditional laboratory crowns would serve you better aesthetically.
CEREC same-day crowns cost £[price] at A1 Dental Surgery. This includes everything: consultation, digital scanning, crown design and milling, permanent bonding, and any adjustments needed.
This is comparable to traditional laboratory crown pricing, so you're getting same-day convenience without paying a significant premium. We offer interest-free payment plans if spreading costs over several months helps.
Call 01227 765 851 for specific pricing.
The main difference is timing and process. Traditional crowns require two appointments spaced 2-3 weeks apart, with impressions, temporary crowns, and waiting for laboratory fabrication. CEREC crowns are completed in a single two-hour appointment using digital scanning and in-surgery milling.
Quality-wise, both produce excellent results. CEREC uses digital scanning which eliminates gag-inducing impression materials. Traditional laboratory crowns sometimes achieve marginally better aesthetics for complex cases because ceramists have more time for hand-layering. We'll discuss which option suits your specific situation during consultation.
No, that's one of CEREC's major advantages. Your permanent crown is fitted the same day, so temporary crowns aren't needed at all. You avoid the entire temporary crown experience: the bulky feel, worry about it coming off, and weeks of being careful about what you eat.
This is particularly valuable for patients who hate temporary crowns or who can't take multiple days off work for appointments.
Like any dental restoration, CEREC crowns can break if subjected to excessive force, but they're very strong when used normally. They're milled from solid porcelain blocks, making them dense and durable.
Avoid chewing ice, hard sweets, or using your teeth as tools. With normal use and proper care (brushing, flossing, regular check-ups), CEREC crowns routinely last 10-15+ years. If a crown does break, we can often remake it in a single appointment using CEREC technology.
Crowns on the NHS are covered under Band 3 treatment (£319.10) if they're clinically necessary. However, CEREC same-day crowns are typically private treatment due to the specialised technology and additional time required.
The convenience of same-day treatment, digital scanning, and no temporary crowns makes CEREC worth considering as a private option even if you're normally an NHS patient. We'll discuss both NHS traditional crowns and private CEREC options during your consultation so you can make an informed choice.
We check the fit meticulously before bonding your crown permanently. If adjustments are needed, we make them during your appointment. The beauty of CEREC is that if significant modifications are required, we can even mill a new crown the same day rather than sending you away with an ill-fitting restoration.
Once bonded, if you experience any discomfort or bite issues, contact us on 01227 765 851 immediately. We'll see you quickly to make any necessary adjustments.
Our practice is centrally located on London Road in Canterbury (near Canterbury East Station with on-site parking), making CEREC treatment accessible in a single visit whether you're local or travelling from Deal, Dover, or Ramsgate.
