CEREC® Same-Day Crowns in Knightdale, NC
 Getting a dental crown used to mean two office visits, a set of uncomfortable putty impressions, and a week or two in a temporary restoration — CEREC® technology at our Knightdale office changes that entire experience. The team at Stansell Dentistry Associates uses a chairside digital scanner, real-time design software, and an in-office milling unit to fabricate your permanent ceramic crown while you wait. From preparation to bonding, the entire process takes place in a single appointment that typically lasts about two hours.
Our Knightdale location at 1101 Great Falls Ct serves patients from throughout eastern Wake County, including Clayton, Garner, Wendell, and Zebulon. To learn more about how CEREC® technology works and how same-day crowns differ from traditional lab-fabricated restorations, visit our main CEREC® same-day crowns page.
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When Is a Crown Needed?
A dental crown protects and restores a tooth that has lost too much structure to function safely on its own. Fillings work well for small to moderate cavities, but when the damage extends beyond what a filling can reliably support, a crown covers the entire visible portion of the tooth and distributes biting forces evenly across the restoration.
Your dentist may recommend a crown in several common situations. Teeth with deep decay that has undermined the walls of the tooth often require full-coverage protection. A tooth that has cracked under pressure from grinding or biting into something hard needs a crown to hold the remaining structure together and prevent the crack from spreading. Teeth that have completed root canal treatment are more brittle than vital teeth and almost always benefit from a crown to guard against fracture.
Crowns are also used to complete other restorative work. A dental bridge relies on crowns cemented onto the anchor teeth on either side of a gap. Patients receiving a dental implant receive a crown as the final visible restoration. Large, aging amalgam or composite fillings that are beginning to deteriorate can be replaced with a crown before additional breakdown occurs, preserving more of the natural tooth structure in the long run.
Your Knightdale Dental Team
Our Knightdale dental team approaches every CEREC® case with careful diagnostic planning before any preparation begins. Digital x-rays reveal the internal condition of the tooth, including the health of the root and surrounding bone, while an intraoral camera provides a magnified surface view that helps your dentist identify cracks, fracture lines, or areas of hidden decay. These images are shared on a chairside screen so you can see exactly what your dentist sees and understand why a crown is the recommended treatment.
The CEREC® system gives our Knightdale team direct control over every phase of the restoration. Rather than sending impressions to an outside lab and waiting for a crown to be fabricated and shipped, your dentist designs the crown in the office, oversees the milling process, and bonds the final restoration — all within the same appointment. This hands-on approach allows real-time adjustments to fit, contour, and shade that are difficult to achieve when an outside technician is involved.
Step-by-Step CEREC® Process
Every CEREC® appointment at our Knightdale office follows a clear, predictable sequence. Understanding each step ahead of time helps you know exactly what to expect during your visit.
The appointment starts with local anesthesia to ensure comfort throughout the procedure. Once the area is numb, your dentist removes any decayed or damaged material and shapes the remaining tooth into a form that will support the crown. After preparation, a small handheld scanner passes over the tooth and neighboring teeth, capturing a precise 3D digital model in a matter of minutes. This scan completely replaces the putty impression trays used in traditional crown procedures.
Your dentist then opens the CEREC® design software on a chairside monitor and uses the 3D model to sculpt the crown digitally. The software accounts for the shape of adjacent teeth, the opposing bite, and the spacing required for a natural fit. Once the design is finalized, the file is transmitted to the in-office milling unit.
The milling unit carves the crown from a single block of dental-grade ceramic, a process that takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes. After milling, your dentist checks the shade against your natural teeth, polishes the surface, and seats the crown for a trial fit. Bite adjustments are made as needed before the crown is permanently bonded. A final polish completes the procedure, and you leave with a fully restored tooth that same day.
Benefits of Same-Day Crowns at Knightdale
Choosing a CEREC® crown at our Knightdale office provides advantages that extend well beyond convenience:
- Complete in One Visit — The traditional two-appointment crown process is condensed into a single session. You do not need to take additional time off work, arrange a second round of childcare, or adjust your schedule for a follow-up visit.
- No Temporary Restoration — Temporary crowns are a frequent source of frustration. They can crack, come loose while eating, or cause sensitivity to hot and cold. CEREC® eliminates the temporary entirely, so you go straight from preparation to your permanent crown.
- Comfortable Scanning — The intraoral scanner replaces goopy putty trays that can trigger gagging. The scan is fast, comfortable, and often produces a more accurate impression than the traditional method.
- Metal-Free Aesthetics — CEREC® crowns contain no metal. They are milled from all-ceramic material that matches the natural color and translucency of tooth enamel, making them an excellent option for teeth that show when you smile or speak.
- Long-Term Reliability — The ceramic material is engineered to handle the forces of everyday biting and chewing. With consistent brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits, a CEREC® crown can serve you well for many years.
Why Choose Our Knightdale Office for CEREC® Crowns
 Our Knightdale office is one of three Stansell Dentistry Associates locations equipped with the full CEREC® system, and it serves as the most convenient option for patients east of Raleigh. The office combines the CEREC® milling unit with digital x-rays, an intraoral camera, and a soft tissue laser — a technology suite that supports everything from straightforward crown cases to more complex restorative dentistry situations.
Knightdale is also the only location in our practice that accepts Medicaid, which expands access for patients who may not have had the opportunity to address a damaged or decaying tooth through other coverage. While Medicaid coverage for crowns varies by individual plan, our team verifies your specific benefits before treatment and walks you through any out-of-pocket responsibility.
Comfort amenities at our Knightdale office — including in-chair entertainment, blankets, warm towels, and a coffee and beverage bar — help make the two-hour CEREC® appointment feel shorter than it is. Our team takes the time to explain the process before beginning and keeps you informed at each stage so there are no surprises.
CEREC® Crown Cost & Insurance in Knightdale
CEREC® crowns and traditional lab-fabricated crowns share the same insurance procedure code, so your plan covers them at the same rate. Crowns generally fall under the major restorative benefit category, and the percentage your insurance pays depends on your specific plan details and remaining annual maximum.
Several factors influence the final cost of your CEREC® crown, including the tooth’s position in the mouth, how much preparation the tooth requires, and whether additional procedures such as a core buildup are part of the treatment plan. Our Knightdale team reviews your benefits, provides a written estimate, and explains your financial responsibility before any clinical work begins.
We accept MetLife, BCBS, Delta Dental, Ameritas, United Concordia, Aetna, United Healthcare, Cigna, and Medicaid at this location. Sunbit pay-over-time financing and CareCredit help patients manage out-of-pocket costs through monthly installments. Patients without insurance can enroll in our in-house membership plans, which include discounted rates on restorative services with no deductible, no waiting period, and no annual maximum. Visit our financial and insurance page for full details, or call (984) 733-0330 for a personalized estimate.
Visit Our Knightdale Office
Our Knightdale office is located at 1101 Great Falls Ct, Ste 102, Knightdale, NC 27545. We welcome patients Monday through Friday. Call (984) 733-0330 to schedule your CEREC® same-day crown consultation.
CEREC® crowns are also available at our Brier Creek office and our North Raleigh office. Visit our Brier Creek CEREC same-day crowns page or North Raleigh CEREC same-day crowns page for location-specific details, or browse our full range of dental services to see everything Stansell Dentistry Associates provides across the Raleigh metro area.
Frequently Asked Questions About CEREC® Crowns in Knightdale
Does Medicaid cover CEREC® crowns at your Knightdale office?
Our Knightdale location is the only office in our practice that accepts Medicaid. Whether a crown is covered depends on the specifics of your individual Medicaid plan, the clinical necessity of the procedure, and state guidelines. Our team verifies your coverage before treatment begins and explains any out-of-pocket responsibility so you can make an informed decision before we proceed.
Will I feel anything during the CEREC® crown procedure?
Local anesthesia is administered at the start of your appointment to numb the tooth and surrounding tissue. You should not feel any discomfort during the preparation, scanning, or bonding phases. Some patients experience mild sensitivity for a day or two after the anesthesia wears off, particularly to hot or cold temperatures, but this is temporary and typically resolves on its own without intervention.
How do I care for my CEREC® crown after it is placed?
A CEREC crown is cared for exactly the same way you care for your natural teeth. Brush twice daily, floss around the crown every day, and keep up with your regular dental checkups and cleanings. Avoid using your teeth as tools to open packaging or bite into extremely hard items like ice or hard candy, as these habits can damage both natural teeth and ceramic restorations.
Can a CEREC® crown replace an old metal filling?
Yes, and this is one of the most common reasons patients receive CEREC crowns. Large amalgam fillings can weaken the remaining tooth structure over time, and as the filling ages it may crack or separate from the tooth wall. Replacing the old filling with a full-coverage CEREC crown reinforces the entire tooth, eliminates the risk of further fracture, and gives you a metal-free, natural-looking restoration.
What happens if my CEREC® crown chips or breaks?
While CEREC crowns are made from durable dental-grade ceramic, any restoration can be damaged under extreme force. If a chip or fracture does occur, contact our Knightdale office as soon as possible. In many cases, a small chip can be smoothed and polished without replacing the crown. If the damage is more significant, a new CEREC crown can be designed and fabricated in the same visit, restoring your tooth without the delays associated with lab-fabricated replacements.
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