You may need a dental crown for a number of reasons, such as after getting a deep filling, a root canal, or a broken tooth. A crown is a cap that goes over your natural tooth.
Even though crowns improve the cosmetic appearance of your smile, they’re also important for the sake of your teeth. Dental crowns make your teeth stronger, especially when your natural tooth is damaged. In this blog, Dana Samet, DDS, from Dental Art of South Bay in Torrance, California, discusses the difference between traditional crowns and advanced CEREC® crowns.
A dental crown completely covers the surface of your tooth. Because it’s cemented to your natural tooth or dental implant, the crown is durable and secure. It will look and function just like a natural tooth.
To get a traditional crown, Dr. Samet first prepares your tooth. Then she takes impressions of your tooth and records the color of your surrounding teeth. The impressions and color are then sent to a special dental lab, where your permanent crown is made, usually out of porcelain or ceramic.
You’ll wear a temporary crown while waiting for the permanent crown to come back from the lab. When it’s ready, you’ll come back to the office, where Dr. Samet will remove the temporary crown and replace it with your permanent one.
Traditional crowns are effective at protecting and stabilizing teeth. However, they do have the drawback of a significant time investment. Most of us are busy, and the thought of having to make two separate dental appointments for a crown procedure can be unappealing.
CEREC crowns have revolutionized the process of getting dental crowns. The process is much shorter, allowing most crowns to be completed in just one visit. They also offer the advantage of being more accurate, allowing the most perfect fit possible.
Traditional crowns require biting down into putty to make an impression of your tooth. This usually comes pretty close to a perfect crown, but, sometimes, Dr. Samet will have to shave it here and there to get it exactly right.
CEREC crowns are made from a 3-D scan of your mouth, which gets the exact dimensions of your tooth. This scan is then put into a computer, which creates the perfect mold to be used for your crown. Because the 3-D scan is so accurate, no adjustments are usually necessary.
A specially designed milling machine creates the crown, and the whole process is usually finished within a couple of hours. Dr. Samet is able to color-match the crown to your surrounding teeth for a natural look. The process is fast and efficient, without the discomfort that can come with temporary crowns or the waiting period involved with traditional crowns.
Getting a dental crown is an important procedure for the health and appearance of your teeth. But it doesn’t have to be a time-consuming endeavor, thanks to CEREC technology. To learn more, book an appointment over the phone with Dental Art of South Bay today.
