What can you do in an hour and a half? Stream a couple episodes of your favorite TV show, sweat through your morning gym session, and… get a dental crown? It’s true. CEREC crowns in Jonesboro are completed in just one visit to your dentist’s office. How does same-day dentistry work? And how do CEREC and traditional crowns compare? Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect from a one-visit crown from Dr. Yarnell.
Why You May Need a Dental Crown
Before we discuss how CEREC (chairside economical restoration of esthetic ceramics) compares to the traditional method for constructing crowns, it is helpful to understand why you may need a dental crown in the first place. Also called a cap, the restoration is a thin, tooth-shaped covering that restores the strength, health, and appearance of a seriously damaged or decayed tooth.
Dental crowns may be used in the following scenarios:
- Holding together parts of a broken tooth
- Restoring a cavity when there is not enough room for a filling
- Repairing worn or malfunctioning dental work
- As the final step in root canal therapy
- Single tooth replacement
- Making cosmetic improvements to seriously damaged teeth
Dental crowns may be made from a variety of materials, including porcelain/ceramic, porcelain fused to metal, zirconia, gold, or metal alloys. CEREC one-visit crowns are constructed from a single block of ceramic, resin, or zirconia. These materials are highly customizable to match the shade of the surrounding teeth.
Traditionally, the treatment for a dental crown is completed over two visits to the dentist, with a week or two in between appointments. A temporary crown is worn while the permanent is created in a separate lab. Unfortunately, many people experience breaks or discomfort in this temporary restoration — adding stress and requiring additional visits to the dentist.
CEREC vs. Traditional Crowns
What is the difference between a one-visit crown and those prepared in a separate laboratory? Perhaps most significantly for the patient, CEREC crowns are far more efficient. Rather than waiting two weeks for your crown to be created, a same-day restoration is completed in a little less than two hours.
The CEREC process is more comfortable, too. Because this method uses digital imagery to create a three dimensional model of your mouth, there’s no need to worry about sitting through one of those uncomfortable, gag-inducing traditional impressions. You just sit back, smile, and let us capture a digital image of your tooth and surrounding oral structures.
Of course, we wouldn’t trade temporary convenience for lasting results. Another great thing about CEREC is that it significantly improves the treatment planning process with digital imagery, providing you with improved results overall. Same-day crowns are proven to last just as long as those prepared the traditional way, but they may look, fit, and feel better, thanks to increased accuracy during the planning and preparation phase.
Schedule an Appointment Today!
You can benefit from advanced technology with CEREC same-day dentistry in our comfortable, state-of-the-art office. Request an appointment online today!