MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Community Health Center has taken a step forward in dental technology, according to an announcement from MLCHC. 

The CEREC Primemill system, now in operation at the clinic in Moses Lake, allows patients to receive custom dental crowns in just one visit, according to the announcement. 

The equipment actually arrived just after the first of the year, said MLCHC Marketing Director Stephanie Melcher, and took a little while to get set up. 

“It's been a few months in service,” Melcher said. “We started with a small launch just to get our feet wet, and now it’s open.” 

Traditionally, getting a crown takes at least two visits, according to the announcement. At the first appointment, the tooth is prepared, and patients often must bite into messy, gooey impression material that gets sent to a dental lab. A second visit — usually two to three weeks later — is needed to place the finished crown. With the new CEREC system, that whole process is replaced with a quick, comfortable digital scan and a crown made the same day. 

Using state-of-the-art digital technology, the dental team at MLCHC can: 

Scan: The dentist takes a 3D digital impression of the tooth or teeth that need restoration using an intraoral scanner. 

Design: The software generates a 3D model of the tooth, allowing the dental team to design a customized restoration precisely tailored to the patient’s needs. 

Manufacture: MLCHC mills the crown on-site using a milling machine that cuts the restoration from a block of ceramic. 

Placement: The dentist polishes and bonds the restoration to the tooth, ensuring durability and a natural look. 

The CEREC system has gotten a lot of use, Melcher said. 

“We have seen an increase in people coming in for the procedure,” she said. “People that are aware of it who have come in for one (crown) have come back and had multiple.” 

MLCHC has fully integrated this process into its daily workflow, meaning patients can begin scheduling appointments for this service right away, according to the announcement 

“This upgrade is truly the ‘crown jewel’ in our dental department,” MLCHC CEO Sheila Berschauer wrote in the announcement. “By offering same-day crowns, we save patients time, reduce costs, and remove the hassle of multiple appointments while still delivering the highest-quality results.” 

    Advances in technology being adopted at the local level means faster service, less expense and more convenience for patients in the area.