CEREC® Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are a great solution to restore the shape and health of your teeth, that have considerable damage due to dental decay, trauma, or just wear and tear over your lifetime.
We are one of few dental offices in San Diego county equipped with CAD/CAM digital dentistry technology called CEREC, which allows us to offer convenient same-day dental crowns. CEREC is the latest, state-of-the-art dentistry tool kit for digital scanning, designing, and fabrication of high-quality crowns.
Advantages of CEREC Same-Day Crowns
The scanning process is painless and comfortable, eliminating the need to use old-school impression trays and material. The design and milling of the crowns are computerized processes to ensure the crowns are incredibly accurate and very well fitting. As a result, there is usually no need for adjustments after delivery. Watch a short video about CEREC crowns on our YouTube channel.
Your Choice of Crowns
You have the choice to get your crown either made from porcelain or many different ceramic materials. Ceramic makes your crown extremely strong and gives it a very natural look. Ceramic crowns seamlessly blend in with the rest of your teeth and feel like your own natural teeth. Same-day crowns are not only convenient and fast but also easy and painless, beautiful looking, and feel exactly like natural teeth.
Front Tooth Crowns and Front Tooth Caps
Although the design and fabrication process of front tooth crowns are similar to that of crowns for posterior teeth, it requires more artistic and design expertise and knowledge of materials for exact shade selection to create your perfect smile. Dr. Shahrokh has the knowledge and many years of training and experience in making front crowns, using the ideal, natural-looking porcelain or ceramic material, creating that perfect, beautiful smile.
Same-day Root Canal and Crown Option
We can do most of our root canals with the crown that way. Having both done in one day will protect the tooth and is very convenient, reducing the number of appointments. However, in particular more complex cases, we may need to refer you to an outside root canal specialist.
In rare cases of severe pain or infection, it is best to do the root canal procedure with two appointments. Dr. Shahrokh will always try to limit your time in the chair and maximize your comfort level to achieve the best outcome. Read more about root canals.
The Use of Temporary Crowns
Temporary crowns are known to be uncomfortable, so we rarely use temporary crowns for single tooth crowns. However, for cases of large bridges or multiple crowns, the longer turnaround time for fabrication may require the use of temporary crowns. Dr. Shahrokh will make sure that your temporary crown feels and looks natural. At our office, you will have the temporary crown just for a few days, compared to two to three weeks at a standard laboratory, since we can do the work for crowns, bridges, and veneers right here in-house.
Front Tooth Crowns Versus Veneers
Veneers are the most conservative option to correct cosmetic issues such as discolorations, chipped teeth, and spacing. Veneers only cover or replace the front surface of the tooth. A large fracture, an existing tooth filling, a previous root canal treatment, or dental decay on a tooth may require a dental crown covering the entire tooth. We will determine your best treatment option when you come in for your dental exam. Read more about Veneers.
A Crown Sensitive to Cold
Sensitivity to cold may indicate a defective crown, such as an open margin or the start of a dental cavity underneath. However, not all sensitivity may require a crown replacement. In some cases, sensitivity to cold perceived by a crown may be due to the recession of the gum or from a different tooth in the area. A dental examination is required to diagnose the exact cause of sensitivity and prescribe the correct treatment for it.
Implant Crowns
An implant crown consists of a titanium screw placed in the jaw, similar to the tooth's root. First, the implant is positioned to level with the top of the bone. Once the implant has completely fused to the surrounding bone, an abutment and a crown will be attached. The abutment is made from titanium or zirconia and connects the implant to the crown. The crown material can be either porcelain or ceramic and is then cemented or screwed onto the abutment. Read more about dental implants.
Dental Crown Versus Dental Bridge
A crown is used to cover an existing tooth that is broken, has a large cavity, fracture, or a large failing existing filling. A dental bridge is used to replace a missing space due to tooth loss. A bridge is made up of one or more false teeth attached to a crown on either side of them.
Inlays and Onlays
Porcelain and ceramic inlays and onlays can correct minor structural losses to the teeth. In addition, inlays and onlays are robust and look and feel like your natural teeth.
The Process of Inlays and Onlays
The procedure for inlays and onlays is very easy and painless:
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1. We use our state-of-the-art CAD/CAM digital scanning technology to scan the teeth and fabricate the onlay.
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2. We prepare the part of the tooth that will receive the inlay/onlay by scanning it thoroughly to make sure it is healthy otherwise.
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3. The inlay/onlay is designed and fabricated the same day using our CEREC CAD/CAM milling machine.
Advantages of Inlays and Onlays
Inlays/onlays are made up of the same material as the crowns, thus making them very strong.
In addition, because the entire design and fabrication process is computerized, the end
product is very accurate and requires minimal to no adjustment prior to delivery.