CEREC ROI: Does Chairside Milling Actually Pay for Itself?
The CEREC rep will model your payback at 4 crowns/day showing breakeven in 8 months. The honest math at 1–2 crowns/day shows breakeven in 12–18 months. Both are right — the question is which one matches your practice.
Cost stack — the full picture
Hardware: $45K (Primemill + Primescan bundle, typical mid-range). Software subscription: $1,500/yr. Service contract after Year 1: $5,400/yr (12% of hardware). Materials per crown: $35 (block + bonding). Replacement burrs and accessories: $1,200/yr.
Year 1 cash cost (hardware financed over 60 months at 8%): $10,800 in payments + $1,500 subscription + $35 × volume + $1,200 accessories. Year 2+ cash cost: same payments + subscription + $5,400 service + $35 × volume + $1,200 accessories.
Per-restoration savings
Lab fee saved per crown: $120–$180 (varies by lab and material). Temporary material + cementation saved: $20–$30. Second visit chair-time saved: $80–$150 in productive value (varies by your practice's per-hour billing). Total per-restoration cash + opportunity value: $220–$360.
Net per-restoration benefit (savings minus $35 material): $185–$325.
Payback at different volumes
0.5 crowns/day (10/month): $1,850–$3,250/mo benefit. Year 1 cash cost ~$1,400 mo. Marginal benefit ~$450–$1,850/mo. Breakeven within Year 1 even at the low end. But: marginal cash benefit is modest until the equipment debt is paid.
2 crowns/day (40/month): $7,400–$13,000/mo benefit. Comfortable margin from month 1.
4 crowns/day (80/month): $14,800–$26,000/mo benefit. The vendor's modeled scenario; clear winner.
The honest answer
CEREC pays for itself in most practices that produce 1+ crowns/day. Below that threshold the payback is real but takes 18–24 months and the lifestyle benefit (same-day delivery, fewer return visits) matters more than the cash math. Above 2 crowns/day the system is one of the highest-margin investments in dentistry.