Your crown.
Designed. Milled.
Bonded. Today.
Traditional crowns take two appointments spread over 3–4 weeks — one to prepare and temporise, one to fit. CEREC compresses this into a single visit. The tooth is prepared, scanned digitally, the crown is designed on-screen by Dr. Haris, milled from a zirconia block at chairside, and permanently bonded — all within the same appointment. No physical impression. No temporary crown to dislodge. No second visit.
A full dental laboratory
at chairside.
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramics. It is an in-clinic CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing) system comprising three components working in sequence: an intraoral scanner that captures a precise 3D digital model of the prepared tooth, opposing arch, and bite; CEREC design software where Dr. Haris refines the AI-proposed crown geometry, contact points, and occlusal surface; and a Primemill milling unit that carves the designed crown from a solid pre-shaded ceramic block — all within a single appointment.
The material milled at Hassaan Dental is monolithic zirconia — the same material used by dental laboratories for their premium zirconia crowns. The block is pre-shaded to match adjacent tooth colour, and a final glaze is applied after milling to produce the surface texture and lustre of a natural tooth. The result is a permanent, fully bonded zirconia crown of equivalent material quality to a laboratory-fabricated crown.
The primary clinical difference between CEREC and laboratory crowns is aesthetic, not structural: a skilled ceramist can apply layered hand-porcelain over a zirconia core to produce subtle colour gradients and light-scattering that approaches the finest natural enamel translucency. For posterior teeth (molars and premolars), implant crowns, and most clinical situations, CEREC zirconia delivers equivalent outcomes to a laboratory crown — with the significant practical advantage of completion in one visit.
The entire process — preparation, scan, design, milling, and bonding — takes place in a single 90–120 minute appointment. You leave with a permanently cemented final crown.
Traditional crowns require a temporary crown between appointments — which can dislodge, fracture, or cause sensitivity. CEREC eliminates the temporary entirely. The first crown placed is the final crown.
The intraoral scanner captures the preparation in seconds with no impression trays, no impression material, and no gagging. The digital model is more consistent than physical impressions and sends directly to the milling unit.
CEREC software proposes an initial crown shape; Dr. Haris refines the anatomy, contact points, and bite relationship on-screen before milling begins. The clinical decision-maker is in the room, not a remote laboratory.
Pre-shaded zirconia blocks are the same material category used in laboratory zirconia crowns. No compromise on material properties — the convenience advantage comes from in-clinic milling, not a different material.
Three components. One appointment.
Clinical outcomes equivalent to lab.
CEREC is not a shortcut — it is a different route to the same destination. Here is the technology, and what the clinical evidence says about long-term outcomes.
A wand-shaped optical scanner captures thousands of images per second, building a real-time 3D model of the prepared tooth, adjacent teeth, and opposing arch — eliminating physical impression materials entirely.
The software analyses the scanned preparation and proposes an initial crown design using biogeneric reference data from thousands of tooth morphologies. Dr. Haris reviews and refines the crown anatomy, marginal fit, contact points, and occlusal surface before approving the design for milling.
The milling unit receives the approved design file and carves the crown from a pre-shaded monolithic zirconia block using diamond-tipped milling instruments. The milled crown is then glazed and polished to the final surface finish at chairside.
Peer-reviewed systematic reviews and meta-analyses comparing CAD/CAM chairside crowns to laboratory-fabricated crowns consistently show comparable survival rates at 5 and 10 years — both exceeding 93–95% in well-conducted studies. The monolithic zirconia used in CEREC milling has excellent flexural strength (900–1,200 MPa) and fracture resistance. The key clinical nuance: for high-aesthetic anterior cases — particularly upper central incisors in smile-critical positions — a skilled ceramist applying hand-layered porcelain can produce slightly greater light translucency and colour complexity than monolithic CEREC zirconia. For posterior teeth, implant crowns, broken-down teeth, and most clinical situations, CEREC delivers equivalent long-term outcomes with the significant practical advantage of same-day completion. Dr. Haris will specify at your consultation which approach is most appropriate for your tooth and position.
When CEREC is the right choice —
and when lab is better.
CEREC is the right system for most crown cases. There are specific situations where a traditional laboratory crown is the more appropriate clinical choice — Dr. Haris advises honestly on both.
Clinical situations CEREC crowns address
A crack propagating through a tooth requires immediate full-coverage protection. CEREC allows the definitive crown to be placed the same day — no risk of the crack extending further during a 3–4 week temporary phase.
Same-day advantage criticalA tooth with a large failing composite or amalgam filling — where insufficient sound tooth structure remains to support another filling — requires crown coverage. CEREC delivers this without interim temporisation.
Most common indicationCEREC is highly accurate for implant crown fabrication — the digital scan captures the implant abutment geometry precisely, and the milled zirconia crown achieves excellent fit without the variables of physical impression taking over an implant.
Excellent digital accuracyA root-treated tooth is brittle and fracture-prone — every day without a crown is additional risk. CEREC allows the crown to be placed immediately after root canal treatment is completed, in the same or next appointment.
Reduces fracture risk windowTeeth worn by grinding require strong full-coverage restorations. Monolithic zirconia milled by CEREC is ideally suited — at 900–1,200 MPa it resists the bruxism forces that fracture porcelain. Night guard provision is mandatory alongside.
Zirconia — best material for bruxersWhere a smile makeover (designed via DSD) requires crowns on structurally compromised teeth alongside veneers on intact ones — CEREC allows all restorations to be fabricated to the same DSD specification, completed in coordinated appointments.
DSD-integrated workflowStep by step —
from numb to bonded crown.
Everything happens in the same appointment. Here is exactly what occurs and in what order — so there are no surprises on the day.
Before the tooth is prepared, shade is selected under natural light — the pre-anaesthetic moment when the tooth is still hydrated and the patient is most relaxed, giving the truest shade reading. Clinical photographs are taken. Where the tooth requires root canal treatment before crowning, this is completed first in a prior appointment. OPG X-ray confirms root and bone status before preparation begins.
Local anaesthesia is administered and the tooth is shaped to receive the crown — removing damaged structure, evening margins, and creating the preparation geometry required for the ceramic crown to seat precisely. The preparation for a CEREC crown is identical to a traditional crown preparation — the difference begins at the next step. Any remaining caries is removed; a fibre post is placed if required for a root-treated tooth.
The CEREC intraoral scanner captures the prepared tooth, adjacent teeth, and opposing arch in a continuous 3D scan — building a complete digital model in real time on the screen. No impression trays. No putty. No gagging. The patient can watch the 3D model appear on the monitor. The scan data is more consistently accurate than physical impressions, which can distort during removal or setting. The bite relationship is also captured digitally.
CEREC software analyses the preparation scan and proposes an initial crown design using biogeneric reference data. Dr. Haris reviews every aspect of the proposed design — marginal fit, proximal contacts with adjacent teeth, occlusal anatomy, and cusp height — and refines the design where needed before approving it for milling. The patient can observe the crown taking shape on-screen in real time.
The approved design is sent to the Primemill milling unit, which selects the pre-shaded zirconia block matching the chosen shade and carves the crown using diamond-tipped instruments. The milling process takes approximately 15–20 minutes. The patient waits in the chair or relaxes in the waiting area — the crown is physically being made in the clinic while they wait. After milling, the crown is removed from the block, any minor adjustments are made, and a chairside glaze is applied.
The milled crown is placed on the prepared tooth without cement first — fit, shade, contact points, and bite are all verified. Any occlusal adjustments are made at chairside. Once Dr. Haris and you are satisfied, the crown is permanently bonded using adhesive resin cement. Excess cement is removed, margins are polished, and the bite is confirmed once more. You leave with a permanently cemented final zirconia crown — no temporary, no second appointment.
CEREC zirconia vs every
crown option.
How CEREC same-day compares to traditional laboratory options available at Hassaan Dental Clinic.
| Feature | ★ CEREC Zirconia | Lab Zirconia | Lab Porcelain | PFM (Metal-Ceramic) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⏱️ CONVENIENCE | ||||
| Appointments needed | 1 visit only | 2 visits | 2 visits | 2 visits |
| Temporary crown | ✓ None needed | ✗ 3–4 weeks | ✗ 3–4 weeks | ✗ 3–4 weeks |
| Impression type | ✓ Digital scan | Physical or digital | Physical or digital | Physical or digital |
| 💪 MATERIAL STRENGTH | ||||
| Flexural strength | 900–1,200 MPa | 900–1,200 MPa | 60–90 MPa | ~400 MPa |
| Suitable for bruxers | ✓ First choice | ✓ Yes | ✗ Fracture risk | Metal yes, porcelain chips |
| Biocompatibility | ✓ Excellent | ✓ Excellent | ✓ Excellent | Metal allergy risk |
| 🎨 AESTHETICS | ||||
| Shade matching | ✓ Pre-shaded block | ✓ Lab shade matching | ✓ Finest matching | Good — no metal show |
| Light translucency | Good — monolithic | Good — monolithic | ✓ Best — layered | ✗ Metal base visible |
| Best for anterior aesthetics | Good — most cases | Good — most cases | ✓ Premium anterior | ✗ Not recommended |
| 💰 PRICING (HASSAAN DENTAL) | ||||
| Price per unit | PKR 20,000 | PKR 20,000 | PKR 10,000 | PKR 10,000 |
| Longevity potential | 15–25 years | 15–25 years | 10–15 years | 10–15 years |
Same-day convenience.
Same price as the lab.
CEREC same-day zirconia crowns cost the same as laboratory zirconia crowns at Hassaan Dental. No premium for the same-day technology.
Important: Unit prices remain the same; final treatment cost may vary after clinical examination. Crown cost does not include root canal treatment where required, or post and core build-up for root-treated teeth. All costs confirmed in writing at the consultation appointment before treatment begins.
CEREC questions
answered directly.
Including the honest answer on how CEREC crowns compare to laboratory crowns in clinical outcome.
Broken tooth in.
Permanent crown
out. Same day.
A PKR 1,000 consultation includes OPG X-ray and clinical assessment to confirm suitability for CEREC same-day treatment. Most crown cases are suitable. Bring any existing X-rays.
