CEREC Same-Day Dental Crowns – Lakewood, CO
A High-Quality Solution Made in a Day
Do you have a damaged or decayed tooth? Up until recently, repairing your smile with a custom-made dental crown would’ve taken at least two appointments with Dr. Henry. Now, the entire process can be completed in one conveniently scheduled visit to our office! With CEREC technology, we can prepare your tooth and create a durable restoration in just a single appointment. If you’d like to learn more about this service, keep reading or give us a call.
What Are CEREC Same-Day Dental Crowns?
Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (i.e., CEREC) is an advanced dental technology that is made up of three separate units all housed in our office. These include:
- A digital infrared camera to capture a detailed image of your tooth
- A computer and specialized software that designs the restoration based on the digital image
- A milling unit that carves your same-day crown
A CEREC dental crown is a far more convenient way to restore a damaged smile than with a traditional crown. If it’s determined that you need to repair your tooth with a restoration, you may be a good candidate for this innovative solution. Dr. Henry will assess your oral health to determine if this is the best option for you.
The Process of Getting a CEREC Same-Day Dental Crown
Initially, the tooth undergoes preparation or reshaping by removing a small portion of enamel, ensuring a proper fit for the crown. Dr. Henry will administer a local anesthetic beforehand to keep you comfortable throughout the process.
Instead of using messy and uncomfortable putty, he’ll capture digital impressions of your smile. These impressions generate a three-dimensional model, eliminating any discomfort or gag reflex.
Next, the computer transfers the model to an in-office milling machine. Within approximately an hour, the machine carves a personalized crown from a solid block of dental porcelain or ceramic. This crown matches the size, shape, color, and other characteristics of your natural tooth.
You will then try on the crown, and if necessary, Dr. Henry will make any final adjustments. Once the crown is properly fitted, it is seated over your tooth, and you are ready to go!
Benefits of CEREC Crowns vs. Traditional Crowns
With CEREC technology, you'll enjoy the convenience of completing your dental crown treatment in a single visit, saving you time, and eliminating the need for multiple appointments. Some other benefits they offer include:
- Digital Impressions: In the past, obtaining an impression for a crown involved biting down on unpleasant-tasting and gag-inducing putty for extended periods. However, CEREC employs 100% digital impressions, providing a much more comfortable, faster, and often more precise process.
- Lifelike Results: CEREC crowns are crafted from dental porcelain, closely resembling natural tooth enamel. They can be shaded to perfectly match your smile, ensuring lifelike and aesthetically pleasing results.
- Improved Oral Health: Unlike traditional crowns containing metals like gold, nickel, or mercury, CEREC crowns are entirely metal-free. By choosing CEREC, you can avoid potential oral health risks associated with metal exposure, such as increased temperature sensitivity and mercury exposure.
- Cost-Effective Solution: While CEREC crowns may appear more advanced, the costs are often comparable to traditional crowns. By eliminating the need for an external lab, dentists can pass on the savings to you. Additionally, you will only need to pay for a single dental appointment, further reducing the overall costs.
CEREC Dental Crown FAQs
Will I Have Dietary Restrictions with a Same-Day Crown?
If you’ve had a lab-made dental crown in the past, then you may remember having to abide by a few dietary restrictions while your temporary restoration was in place. Same-day dental crowns completely bypass the need for temporary restorations, however. So, you don’t have to worry about avoiding certain foods, flossing your teeth in a certain way, etc.!
What’s the Cost Difference Between Same-Day and Lab-Made Crowns?
Patients often assume that since CEREC technology is so advanced, opting for a same-day dental crown will be considerably more expensive. There are a few reasons that’s typically not the case, starting with the fact that there is no longer a need for temporary restorations or multiple appointments.
It’s also worth noting that many dental insurance providers cover a portion of the cost of essential restorative care, so your out-of-pocket expenses should fit within your budget. As always, our Lakewood dental team will provide you with an estimate of the cost at your appointment and review the different financial solutions available so navigating the price isn’t stressful or overwhelming.
How Durable are CEREC Crowns?
Same-day dental crowns are typically made from a solid block of dental porcelain, and they offer similar protection and strength of lab-made ones crafted from the same material. With proper care, they can last upwards of 15 years too! The key to keeping yours in pristine condition is brushing and flossing consistently, coming in twice a year for a checkup and cleaning, and avoiding bad habits, like smoking and using your teeth as tools.
Do CEREC Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
Although CEREC dental crowns are custom-made to look and feel incredibly natural, they are artificial. As a result, they cannot get cavities. Of course, your natural teeth still can and your gums can easily develop an infection if they are neglected. So, you shouldn’t let your oral hygiene regimen fall to the back burner. Make good habits, like rinsing with an ADA-approved mouthwash each night, a priority while breaking any habits that have the potential to cause harm.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Get a Dental Crown?
Whether you struggle with dental-related anxiety, money is a bit tight right now, or you have a jam-packed schedule, you might be considering taking the “wait and see” approach. However, the longer you wait, the worse the decay, infection, or damage will get. In fact, there may eventually come a time when saving your tooth is no longer an option; we will need to extract it instead. That’s why we recommend getting the restorative care you need right away – it’s the best thing for your smile and wallet!
Is It a Dental Emergency If Your Crown Falls Off?
Losing a dental crown definitely warrants a call to our office. However, a same-day appointment may not be necessary. If that’s the case, then we will walk you through what to do to protect your tooth and keep your restoration in good condition.