CEREC & Chairside CAD/CAM Financing
CEREC and competing chairside CAD/CAM systems run $38K–$52K for the hardware (scanner + mill + furnace + design software bundle). What changes the lifetime cost: annual software subscription ($1,200–$1,800), service contracts (~12–15% of hardware cost annually), and material costs per restoration ($30–$45 per crown in blocks + bonding).
Typical cost: $38,000–$52,000
No hard credit pull to start. · Takes about 2 minutes.
What drives the price spread.
Dentsply Sirona's CEREC Primemill + Primescan bundles typically price at the high end; Planmeca PlanMill 30 S and Glidewell io are alternatives in the $40K range. Refurbished CEREC MC X / MC XL units exist in the $20–$30K range but lack current software features.
Placement-in-service mechanics.
Place in service by 12/31 means: hardware installed, software activated, calibration runs complete, and at least one scan-design-mill restoration completed (a phantom restoration on a model qualifies). Install runs 2–3 weeks once the unit ships. Order by early December to clear timing for current-year deduction.
Lease vs. finance for this equipment.
Chairside CAD/CAM is the clearest case for FMV lease in dental — the technology refresh cycle is 4–5 years and the manufacturer (especially Dentsply Sirona) actively manages upgrades. FMV lease lets you swap into the next-gen system at term-end. If you plan to keep the system 8+ years, finance with EFA / $1-buyout instead.
Payback math.
Same-day crown breakeven typically runs 12–18 months at 1–2 crowns/day. The savings stack: $200–$350 saved per restoration vs. a lab impression (lab fee + temporary + second visit chair-time), with most practices reporting margin improvement of $4–$6K/month at modest volume.
What lenders typically finance.
- Dentsply Sirona CEREC Primemill / Primescan
- Planmeca PlanMill 30 S / Emerald
- Glidewell io
- vhf Z4
Brand-specific financing pages launch in Wave 2.
Questions about financing this.
- Can I finance the subscription and service?
- Yes — most lenders roll the first year of service contract and software subscription into the financed amount. Years 2+ become operating expenses.
- Is the iTero/Primescan the same as CEREC?
- No. iTero and Primescan (standalone) are intraoral scanners — they capture impressions digitally but don't mill chairside. CEREC is the full chairside CAD/CAM workflow. See /intraoral-scanner-financing for scanner-only.