When Linda came in to see Dr. Ching at DENTL in East Melbourne, she needed a new crown on one of her premolars. The decision about which type of crown to use was not straightforward, and Dr. Ching took the time to work through the options carefully before recommending the most appropriate treatment for her circumstances.
The Two Main Types of Dental Crowns at DENTL
CEREC Same-Day Crowns
DENTL has a CEREC milling machine on-site, which allows the team to prepare a tooth, take a digital scan, and mill a custom CEREC crown within the same appointment. For many patients, this is a highly convenient option that eliminates the need for a temporary crown and a second visit. The crown is tooth-coloured and designed to fit precisely into the patient’s existing bite.
Lab-Based Zirconia Crowns
A lab-based crown follows a different pathway. Dr. Ching prepares the tooth in the chair and takes a digital scan, which is then sent to a dental laboratory technician. The crown is custom-made at the lab using the patient’s specific scan data. At DENTL, crowns are available in a range of materials, including tooth-coloured zirconia, metal, and gold. For Linda’s case, Dr. Ching selected zirconia, which is the strongest tooth-coloured material available.
Why Linda Needed a Lab-Based Crown
Linda has bruxism, a condition where a patient clenches and grinds their teeth, often during sleep. For patients with bruxism, the forces placed on dental restorations are significantly higher than average. In Linda’s case, a CEREC crown, while an excellent option for many patients, was not the most appropriate choice. The lab-based zirconia crown offered greater strength and structural integrity to withstand the additional load that grinding places on the tooth over time.
This is exactly why a thorough assessment matters before any crown is placed. The right material and pathway depend on far more than just the size of the tooth being restored.
Other Dental Services at DENTL East Melbourne
Beyond crowns, DENTL offers a full range of restorative and general dental care, including inlays and onlays, dental fillings, TMD and bruxism treatment, and comprehensive examination and hygiene appointments. If you grind your teeth and have not yet spoken to a dentist about it, it is worth raising at your next visit.
Book a Consultation With Dr. Ching at DENTL
If you have questions about what type of crown you might need, or any other dental concern, call Dr. Ching and the DENTL team on (03) 8820 1699 or complete the booking form below to arrange an appointment in East Melbourne.
