Ceramic Crowns and Bridges (CEREC) West Linn, OR
Your teeth are the strongest substance in your body. While incredibly strong, however, they can still be faced with tooth decay and physical damage. When damage occurs, treatment is needed right away. Even minor damage should be addressed as soon as possible. Damage can worsen over time, compromising the strength of your teeth and their health.
Crowns are a common Restorative Dentistry procedure used to treat tooth damage. Crowns typically require two separate appointments, using a temporary crown to protect your tooth between your appointments. While the temporary crown is meant to protect the tooth, the tooth is still at risk for developing an infection. At ZenTech Dentistry, we can provide patients with crowns in one appointment with CEREC same day crowns.
What Is a Crown?
When your teeth are damaged or decayed, getting treatment right away is essential. Without treatment, damage can worsen. More significant damage or decay can compromise the strength of the affected tooth, leaving it susceptible to breaking or shattering. Your tooth is also at risk for a painful tooth infection.
A crown is a dental restoration designed to treat a tooth that has suffered damage. It is a cap-like restoration that encases the entire visible surface area of the damaged tooth. It helps to prevent further damage as well as prevent infections. The strength of your tooth is also restored, and it can function normally.
How Is a Crown Typically Placed?
Typically, a crown requires two appointments to place. During the first appointment, the tooth is prepared, a process that involves removing a portion of the tooth enamel to reduce it in size. This ensures that your crown will fit comfortably and naturally in with the rest of your teeth. Next, an impression is taken and sent to a dental lab. The crown is designed and created off-site, a process that can take up to two weeks. Once the crown is ready, your second appointment occurs. This is when the crown is checked for fit and bite. If it does not fit correctly, it may need to be sent back to the lab for adjustments, which then requires additional waiting and additional appointments.
CEREC Same Day Crowns
Today, we can provide you with same day crowns thanks to CEREC technology. This technology allows you to avoid the need for a temporary crown as well as the need for additional appointments. First, your tooth is prepared. Next, we use a handheld scanner to take a digital impression of your mouth. The impression shows up almost instantly on a computer monitor in 3D. We are then able to use specialized software to design a custom crown based on the parameters of your mouth. Once we have finished designing the crown, we send the information to an in-house milling unit. We place a block of ceramic into the machine, and the machine cuts the crown out of the ceramic. We then finish the crown and check it for fit. We make any necessary adjustments and bond the crown into place with special dental cement. Once in place, no one will be able to tell the difference between your ceramic crown and the rest of your natural teeth.
With CEREC, we can provide you with a dental crown in just one appointment, eliminating the need for a second appointment and a temporary crown. For more information, and to schedule your consultation, call ZenTech Dentistry at (503) 765-9699 today. |