Crowns are full coverage restorations that are used to cover a tooth that is likely to break or is too broken down to be restored with a filling. They are most commonly done after root canal treatment, or when a large filling wears out.
The larger the hole made by a cavity that has to be treated, the more likely a crown will be needed. Crowns ride over the weakened tooth, providing strength and protecting the tooth against breakage. A broken or cracked tooth is a far more serious matter and much more difficult to treat. Crowns prevent this, as well as making for a nice smile.
It takes two appointments to restore a tooth with a crown. In the first, any decay is removed from the tooth and it is shaped to accept the crown. Then an impression is made of the tooth for use in fabricating a crown. Between the two visits, the crown is made, usually of high-strength porcelain over gold alloy, all ceramic material, or gold.
During this time a temporary crown is worn. In the second visit, this temporary is removed. Then the permanent crown is adjusted as needed and then cemented in place.
1 Day Crowns
At most dental offices, a crown can mean multiple trips to the office, which can be inconvenient to the patient. With CEREC, we can finish the procedure from beginning to end in a single visit, eliminating the need for multiple trips.
The best part is that you leave with your definitive crown the same day. This eliminates messy impressions, wearing temporary crowns and taking more time out of your schedule. With the CEREC crown, our Doctors follow the same steps of removing the decay and shaping the tooth for a crown.
However, instead of taking an impression and having an outside lab fabricate the crown, we mill it right here in the office!
