Dental Crowns: Why We Use Zirconia (and Why We Don’t Use CEREC)

Medically reviewed by Dr. Timur Mozner, DDS, SUNY Stony Brook 1998 | NYU AEGD Prosthodontics 1999 | NYU Faculty since 2020 | 28+ Years Experience | Last Updated: May 2026

The dental crown industry has split into two camps over the last decade. Same-day CEREC crowns, milled in-office in about an hour, have become heavily marketed as the modern way to crown a tooth. Traditional 2-visit crowns, made by a master lab over 1 to 2 weeks, are sometimes framed as “old-fashioned.” The honest reality is more nuanced. For some clinical situations, the same-day approach is fine. For most situations, lab-made crowns from a skilled ceramist still produce better long-term outcomes.

This guide explains the materials we use, why we chose zirconia over alternatives, why we do not offer CEREC at Creative Dental of Syosset, and what the experience and cost look like for our patients.

What a Dental Crown Actually Is

A dental crown (sometimes called a “cap”) is a custom-made covering that fits over a tooth from the gum line to the biting surface. Crowns restore teeth that have been weakened by:

• Large cavities or large existing fillings that have left too little tooth structure for another filling
• Cracked teeth at risk of fracturing under chewing forces
• Root canal treatment (the tooth becomes brittle after the nerve is removed and almost always needs a crown to prevent fracture)
• Severe wear from grinding, acid erosion, or aging
• Cosmetic concerns like discoloration, chipping, or shape irregularities that bonding or veneers cannot address
• Implant restorations (the porcelain crown that screws or cements onto the implant abutment)

A well-made crown should last 10 to 15 years (or longer with good care), restore normal chewing function, look like a natural tooth, and protect the underlying tooth from further damage.

The Material We Use: High-Translucency Ivoclar Zirconia

The choice of crown material has significant implications for strength, aesthetics, and longevity. The major options:

• Zirconia (zirconium dioxide ceramic): the strongest tooth-colored option available, with flexural strength of 900 to 1,200 MPa for monolithic full-contour zirconia. Modern high-translucency zirconia (the kind we use) gives near-natural light handling.
• Lithium disilicate (e.max): a glass-ceramic with very good aesthetics, flexural strength around 360 to 400 MPa. Excellent for front teeth and visible posterior teeth where strength demands are moderate.
• Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM): the older standard, with a metal substructure and porcelain overlay. Strong but the metal margin can show as a dark line at the gum, especially as the gum recedes with age.
• All-porcelain (feldspathic): highest aesthetics, lowest strength. Used selectively for anterior teeth where loading is light.
• Gold: still the most durable material for posterior crowns, but increasingly out of fashion for cosmetic reasons.

At Creative Dental of Syosset, we standardize on Ivoclar high-translucency zirconia. The reasoning: it gives nearly the strength of traditional opaque zirconia (which can chip ceramic veneer in some cases) while delivering the light handling and natural appearance patients expect today. For posterior crowns where chewing forces are highest, zirconia is the most predictable long-term material available. Per Dr. Mozner: “We use high quality zirconia because of its strength and cosmetic appearance.”

Why We Don’t Use CEREC Same-Day Crowns

CEREC and similar in-office milling systems mill a crown from a ceramic block in about 1 hour, allowing the patient to leave with a finished crown the same day they had the tooth prepared. The marketing is compelling: one visit, no temporary, no second appointment. Many patients ask for it specifically.

The honest reasons we have chosen not to offer CEREC at Creative Dental of Syosset:

1. Material limitations. Same-day CEREC blocks are limited to certain ceramic compositions, typically lithium disilicate or pre-sintered zirconia. The high-translucency Ivoclar zirconia we use for our lab-made crowns offers a different combination of strength and aesthetics that CEREC blocks do not match.
2. Master ceramist customization. A skilled lab ceramist hand-builds layered porcelain over the zirconia framework for posterior crowns and meticulously tunes shade, translucency, and surface texture for anterior crowns. CAD/CAM in-office milling produces a monolithic block in one shade.
3. Margin precision. The fit between the crown and the prepared tooth (the “margin”) determines how well the crown seals against bacteria and recurrent decay. Lab-made crowns typically achieve marginal fit within 50 microns. In-office milled crowns are improving but historically have had wider margin variability.
4. Time-pressure trade-offs. A 1-hour in-office workflow forces compromises in preparation evaluation, scan checking, and milling-result inspection. A 2-week lab workflow allows the dentist to review, adjust, and re-make if necessary. For a restoration that should last 10 to 15 years, the extra week is not a significant cost.
5. Single-doctor boutique model. Our practice is built around the idea that every step of every procedure is performed by Dr. Mozner personally. A traditional 2-visit crown lets him take the time to refine the preparation, evaluate the patient’s bite carefully, and personally inspect the finished crown before cementation.

Per Dr. Mozner on CEREC specifically: “No, no, don’t even mention it.” His position is that the visible quality difference, particularly on anterior teeth and high-aesthetic cases, justifies the extra week.

Our 2-Visit Crown Process

A typical crown at Creative Dental of Syosset takes two appointments over 2 to 3 weeks:

Appointment 1: Preparation and Digital Impression (about 90 minutes)

1. Local anesthesia (with our painless-dentistry protocol: nitrous oxide if requested, slow injection, topical numbing).
2. Tooth preparation. The damaged or decayed tooth structure is removed and the tooth is shaped to receive the crown. The amount of tooth removal depends on the material and the existing tooth condition.
3. Digital impression. Per Dr. Mozner: “we don’t take impressions or molds anymore.” We use a Dexis intraoral scanner that captures a precise 3D digital model of the prepared tooth, the opposing teeth, and your bite. No goopy impression material, no gagging, no waiting for the material to set.
4. Shade selection. The shade of your existing teeth is matched so the new crown blends naturally. For high-aesthetic cases, our master ceramist may visit the office in person to do shade selection chairside.
5. Temporary crown placement. A temporary acrylic crown protects the prepared tooth while the final crown is made.
6. Lab transmission. The digital scan, shade information, and bite records are transmitted to our external master ceramist lab.

Lab Phase (1 to 2 weeks)

The ceramist designs, mills, layers (when applicable), stains, and glazes the final crown. Quality lab work cannot be rushed, and we do not.

Appointment 2: Crown Delivery (about 60 minutes)

1. Try-in. The new crown is tried in to confirm fit, contact with adjacent teeth, bite alignment, and aesthetics.
2. Adjustments. Minor refinements as needed.
3. Cementation. The crown is permanently cemented or bonded to the prepared tooth.
4. Bite verification and polish.

You leave with a finished crown that should last 10 to 15 years and look natural.

Crown Costs in Long Island

Our crown pricing in the Long Island metro:

• Single zirconia crown (posterior or anterior): $1,600 to $2,000
• Implant crown (the porcelain crown that attaches to a dental implant): typically billed separately from the implant fee; in our Gold Coast Implant package the all-inclusive fee starts at $3,500 per implant including the crown.

Insurance coverage:

• Most PPO plans cover 50% of major restorative work including crowns, after the deductible is met and up to the annual maximum
• Crown coverage typically requires the dentist to document that the crown is medically necessary (broken tooth, large existing filling, root canal, etc.) rather than purely cosmetic
• Medicare does not cover routine dental crowns; some Medicare Advantage plans include limited dental benefits
• CareCredit financing is available for the patient portion

We work with PPO plans (no HMO) and verify coverage upfront so you know exactly what is covered before treatment begins.

How to Make Your Crown Last

A well-made crown is durable but not invincible. To get the full 10 to 15 years of useful life:

• Brush and floss daily, paying special attention to the gum line where the crown meets your tooth. Recurrent decay under the crown margin is the most common reason crowns eventually fail.
• Use fluoride toothpaste. The natural tooth structure under the crown is still vulnerable to decay.
• Keep your 6-month cleaning schedule. Professional cleanings catch early problems and remove tartar buildup at the crown margin.
• Wear a night guard if you grind. Bruxism is one of the leading causes of crown fracture and ceramic chipping. A custom night guard significantly extends crown life.
• Avoid chewing ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels, or non-food objects. Even strong zirconia can crack under unusual forces.
• Address bite problems early. If the bite changes (tooth movement, missing teeth, new fillings), schedule a check. Uneven loading on a crown shortens its life.

Creative Dental of Syosset

Creative Dental of Syosset is a boutique single-doctor dental practice at 34 S Oyster Bay Rd, Syosset, NY 11791. Dr. Timur Mozner, DDS, is the Main Clinical Supervising Faculty at NYU Dental School (since 2020) and a 3-time recipient of America’s Best Dentists. He has been placing crowns and other restorative work in Syosset for over 20 years, with a deliberate focus on lab-made high-translucency Ivoclar zirconia restorations from a trusted master ceramist. The office serves patients from Syosset, Oyster Bay, Woodbury, Jericho, Plainview, Hicksville, Bethpage, Old Bethpage, Massapequa, Greenvale, Glen Head, Glen Cove, and across Nassau County.

If you have been told you need a crown, or if you have a temporary that needs a permanent restoration, schedule a consultation. We accept PPO insurance and offer CareCredit financing.

Schedule a Crown Consultation

Or call (516) 921-3290

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a zirconia crown last?

A well-made and well-maintained zirconia crown should last 10 to 15 years, often longer. Manufacturer defects are covered by a 3-year warranty, but the actual usable lifespan typically extends well beyond the warranty period when the underlying tooth and surrounding gum tissue remain healthy.

Why don’t you do same-day CEREC crowns?

Same-day in-office milling forces material and time-pressure trade-offs that we do not want to accept for a 10 to 15 year restoration. Our 2-visit lab-made high-translucency Ivoclar zirconia crowns deliver better marginal fit, more refined aesthetics from a master ceramist, and broader material options than CEREC milling blocks support.

Will the dentist take a goopy mold of my mouth for the crown?

No. We use a Dexis digital intraoral scanner that captures a precise 3D model of the tooth without any impression material. The scan takes a few minutes and is much more comfortable than traditional impressions.

How much do crowns cost at Creative Dental of Syosset?

Single zirconia crowns typically run $1,600 to $2,000. Implant crowns are billed differently and are included in our Gold Coast Implant package starting at $3,500 per implant (which covers imaging, implant, abutment, crown, and follow-ups).

Will my insurance cover a dental crown?

Most PPO dental plans cover 50% of major restorative work including crowns once the deductible is met and within the annual maximum. Crown coverage typically requires documentation that the crown is medically necessary (cracked tooth, large existing filling, root canal, etc.) rather than purely cosmetic. Medicare does not cover routine dental crowns. We verify benefits upfront and offer CareCredit financing for the patient portion.

What if my crown chips or breaks?

Manufacturer defects are covered by a 3-year warranty. Damage from grinding, trauma, or biting hard objects is not a manufacturer defect, but in many cases a chipped crown can be repaired with bonding rather than replaced. If the underlying tooth has been damaged, the crown may need to be replaced. Bring any broken pieces to your appointment if possible.

This information is provided for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please schedule a consultation with our team to discuss your individual needs.