Our CEREC technology lets us design, mill, and place a custom porcelain crown in a single appointment — no temporary crown, no second visit, no waiting. Just a beautiful, strong crown ready the same day.
CEREC SAME-DAY CROWNS
Traditional dental crowns require two appointments separated by 2–3 weeks, with an uncomfortable temporary crown in between. Our CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) system eliminates all of that. We scan your tooth digitally, design your crown on-screen, mill it from a solid block of high-strength porcelain, and place it — all in under 2 hours.
The result is a permanent, custom-fitted porcelain crown that looks and functions exactly like a natural tooth.
WHEN IS A CROWN NEEDED?
A crown is recommended when a tooth is too damaged for a filling but still has a healthy root worth saving. Here are the most common reasons we place crowns.
When a cavity or old filling affects more than half the tooth, a crown provides full coverage and protection that a filling cannot.
A crown holds a cracked tooth together, preventing the crack from spreading to the root while restoring full chewing function.
A tooth that has had root canal therapy becomes brittle over time. A crown protects it from fracturing and restores its strength and function.
A crown placed on top of a dental implant serves as the visible, functional tooth replacement — designed to match your surrounding teeth precisely.
Severely discolored, misshapen, or worn-down teeth can be fully restored cosmetically with a porcelain crown for a dramatically improved appearance.
When replacing a missing tooth with a bridge, crowns are placed on the adjacent teeth on either side to anchor the bridge in place.
THE CEREC PROCESS
The CEREC process begins with a digital 3D scan of your prepared tooth — no goopy impressions needed. Our software designs a crown that perfectly matches your bite, adjacent teeth, and color preferences. The design is then sent to our in-office milling machine, which carves the crown from a solid ceramic block in about 15 minutes.
After milling, we stain and glaze the crown for a lifelike appearance, bond it to your tooth, and make any final adjustments to ensure a perfect fit. The entire process takes roughly 90 minutes.
OUR CROWN ADVANTAGE
CEREC technology delivers clinically superior results faster and with greater convenience than the traditional two-appointment approach.
Walk in with a damaged tooth and walk out with a permanent crown the same day — no second visit, no temporary crown to manage.
Digital scanning and CAD/CAM milling achieve exceptional accuracy — often more precise than lab-fabricated crowns from traditional impressions.
CEREC crowns are milled from high-strength e.max or zirconia ceramic — proven to last 10–15 years or longer with proper care.
The porcelain is carefully shaded and layered to blend seamlessly with your surrounding teeth for a completely natural-looking result.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Answers to the questions we hear most from patients in Hawthorne and across the South Bay.
With good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, porcelain crowns typically last 10 to 15 years. Some last much longer. The lifespan depends on material, bite force, and how well the tooth is maintained.
Yes. We color-match the porcelain to your surrounding teeth before milling. The result is a crown that blends in so well that even other dentists often can't tell which tooth has been restored.
The tooth preparation and crown placement are done under local anesthesia, so you'll feel pressure but no pain. Some sensitivity is normal for a few days after placement but typically resolves quickly.
Once your permanent crown is cemented, you can eat normally. We recommend avoiding very hard foods (ice, hard candy) with crowned teeth and wearing a night guard if you grind your teeth.
Yes. CEREC crowns are milled from the same high-quality ceramic blocks used in top dental labs. Clinical studies show CEREC crowns perform equivalently to traditionally fabricated porcelain-fused restorations — with the added benefit of single-visit convenience.
Most PPO dental plans cover dental crowns as a major restorative service, typically at 50%. We verify your coverage upfront and provide a clear out-of-pocket estimate before beginning treatment.
Skip the temporary crown and the second appointment. Come into our Hawthorne office and leave the same day with a permanent, beautiful porcelain crown.