Apr
The odds are that you have heard about CEREC, but do you know how this technology has revolutionized modern dentistry? CEREC (short for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) is a computer-aided technique that gives dentists like Dr. Kurt Knechtel the ability to fabricate same-day restorations right here in our office in Longmont, Colorado. This means that if you have damaged teeth, CEREC crowns from Longmont Dental can revive your smile in just one day!
Your enamel may be the strongest part of your body, but this does not mean it is not vulnerable to damage. Trauma and bacteria can damage a tooth, diminishing its functionality and appearance. Unfortunately, the damage cannot be reversed when your enamel is eroded. However, your enamel can be restored artificially using a dental filling or a crown when the damage is extensive.
In addition to strengthening a damaged or decayed tooth, Dr. Knechtel may recommend a dental crown for several reasons, including:
The versatile nature of a dental crown makes it suitable for both cosmetic and functional uses. It is no wonder these “tooth cap” appliances are at the center of many cosmetic and dental restorations.
“How can a crown be made in a day?” Many patients ask this question when Dr. Knechtel says their damaged tooth can be restored in a day — even within hours! Thanks to CEREC technology, single-visit crowns are the order of the day at Longmont Dental.
But what is the magic behind this masterpiece? It’s simple. With CEREC dental crowns, preparation, fabrication, and installation are done right here in our dental office. Because we have a milling machine in our office, there is no need to send your dental images to an off-site dental lab to create your crowns — everything is done under one roof.
As with traditional crowns, the procedure starts with preparing your tooth. After administering anesthesia, we reshape your enamel to create room for a crown. Next, it’s time to take impressions of your prepped teeth. Instead of using old-fashioned molds, Dr. Knechtel uses an intraoral camera to capture hundreds of images of your mouth.
Once the images are fed into the CEREC software, it produces a single 3D representation of your teeth and gums. We can then use this 3D model to fabricate your crown. You can even watch us engineer your crown on the chair-side screen and actively participate in the process.
Once we are satisfied with the design, the digital image is sent to a milling machine to create your crown — a process that takes about 15 minutes. Once your crown is ready, we polish it, make any necessary adjustments, and bond it permanently to your tooth.
Is a dental crown made in one day as strong as a traditional crown? Single-visit crowns function and look exactly like traditional crowns — the only difference is they take less time to fabricate. Other benefits of same-day crowns include:
Ready to skip the wait and restore your teeth with single-day dental crowns? If you are in the Longmont area in Colorado, please dial (720) 815-4733 to book an appointment with Longmont Dental for CEREC crowns.