Sometimes a filling just isn’t enough. When you have a tooth that is in need of serious repair or support, your dentist may recommend a dental crown. Fixed prosthetic devices, dental crowns have the potential to restore the functionality and appearance of weak or damaged teeth. They are highly effective and long lasting. Shaped like a cap, a crown is cemented in place to completely cover a tooth or implant. Dental crowns can be made of a variety of materials, including porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, full metal, ceramic, and resin. We use crowns for the following purposes:
- Strengthen, support, and protect teeth that are worn, cracked, or broken
- Repair the size or shape of teeth that are damaged or misshapen
- Restore teeth after root canals or large fillings
- Improve the look of stained or discolored teeth
- Cover the anchor teeth that support a bridge
- Cover implants
Dental Crowns
Traditional Crowns
If your dentist uses the traditional method of placing a crown, multiple visits will be required. During the first visit, the dentist will prepare the tooth to receive the crown and take an impression before placing a temporary crown to protect the work in progress. Then, the impression will be sent out to an off-site lab, which will use the impression to manufacture a permanent crown. Once your dentist receives the crown, you will be asked to return for a second appointment. During this visit, the dentist will remove the temporary crown, check the fit of the permanent crown, make any necessary adjustments, and bond the crown to the tooth with adhesives. With the crown in place, the repaired tooth should function normally.
CEREC Crowns
What if you could get a dental crown placed in just one day? With CEREC crowns, you can. CEREC is an abbreviation for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, a cumbersome but informative name that describes exactly what this treatment offers. Dentists offering CEREC crowns can design and create custom dental crowns in their office in a matter of minutes, which means that a patient can get a permanent crown placed in a single visit.
If you are a candidate for a CEREC crown, your dentist can place an attractive crown that matches your natural teeth in a matter of hours. There is no need for messy impressions, temporary crowns, or multiple visits. Instead, a CEREC system allows dental professionals to use 3D photography and computer-aided design software to design a custom crown while you’re sitting in the dentist’s chair. Once the design is finalized, a computer-controlled milling machine armed with diamond-headed bits shapes a single block of resin or ceramic into a metal-free dental restoration. After your dentist checks the fit, he or she will cement the crown to the tooth. Once placed, the restored tooth will look and function like a natural tooth. CEREC crowns are quick, convenient and remarkably durable. Since they’re cut from a single block of material, they are often stronger than other types of crowns.
At Duff Family Dental, we’re delighted to offer our patients same-day CEREC crowns. If you live in or near Springfield, Missouri, and believe that you might benefit from a dental crown or other dental services, contact us today to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.
