CEREC Same-Day Dental Crowns and Bridges
Though each of us was born with 32 teeth, by the time we’ve reached our 50th birthday, that number has decreased by an average of five. At Pacific Coast Dental, we know that not every lost tooth was a lost cause if only we’d been able to treat it in time. That’s why our mission is to save a damaged tooth before it becomes lost. One effective way we accomplish that mission is through dental crowns.
A dental crown is like a tooth helmet, completely covering it from the top to the gum line. This structure creates lasting protection on every side of the tooth to guarantee its function. The good news is that modern crowns do the job while being indistinguishable from the tooth they cover. This way, we can fix damaged teeth with a bridge or single crown and simultaneously accentuate your smile.
We Offer Several Types of Dental Crowns
Our treatment approach for every patient is holistic. Your overall needs will always dictate the treatments we recommend. So in some cases, we will offer a conventional dental crown if porcelain fused to a metal crown will work best. These are made in a lab outside the dental clinic but are unparalleled in strength and stability, which make them ideal for restoring molars and hard-working back teeth.
In other cases, we can create your dental crown in our office while you wait through a unique process called CEREC, which stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. Essentially, we digitally design your dental crown and then use a special milling machine that carves your final restoration from a solid ceramic block.
The Steps to Getting a CEREC Dental Crown
The first step when you and Dr. Acosta have decided on a same-day crown is the creation of a digital impression. We then transfer these images to a machine with CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software so our dentist can match your natural tooth and make improvements.
Then, we mill the restoration based on our final design. Dr. Acosta then checks your finished crown for quality and fit, polishes it to a high sheen, and cements it over the remnants of your damaged tooth.
How We Use CEREC Dental Crowns and Their Advantages
Today’s world is fast-paced, and many patients want their dental restorations immediately. This timeliness is just one advantage you’ll receive if this type of crown is appropriate for you. Some other benefits of receiving a CEREC crown at our Pacifica dental office are:
- Time-savings – completion in one visit means it takes half the time
- Convenience – because we make it on-site, we can make any fixes immediately rather than sending it back
- Flexibility – the CEREC process can be used for any tooth regardless of location and for custom dental bridges
- Beauty – same-day crowns look like your natural tooth
Though a CEREC crown may restore every damaged tooth, certain cases exist where a lab-created crown may offer additional benefits. This type of crown, called porcelain fused to metal, offers the best of both worlds. For extra durability, the foundation of this crown is made from metal, while the visible layer is natural-looking porcelain. We may recommend these for molars and pre-molars who grind food and need to resist the strongest jaws.
Learn More about Same-Day and Porcelain Fused to Metal Dental Crowns
CEREC technology is a groundbreaking option for creating dental crowns, but the Pacific Coast Dental team may also offer other types of crowns where appropriate. Our goal is to always lead with education, answering all of your questions so that you make the most informed decision possible.
To learn more about how you can save your teeth from damage and loss, we encourage you to contact us for an appointment today.
