Blog / Dental Technology

What You Can Expect from One-Visit Dental Crowns

May 11, 2016

Young woman opening the front door to Akron Smile

A decade ago, if you needed a crown, you could expect to make multiple visits to your dentist’s office. In fact, with many dentists, that’s still the case. Fortunately, that is not the case with CEREC dental crown, the latest technology for one-visit dental crowns.

What Is a Dental Crown?

You can think of a crown as a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a damaged tooth or an implant. Crowns are intended to restore the tooth’s shape, size, alignment, strength, or appearance.

We use crowns in dentistry for a number of reasons. For example, we might suggest a crown to:

  • Replace a large filling if there isn’t enough tooth remaining
  • Protect a weaker tooth from fracturing
  • Restore a fractured tooth
  • Attach a bridge
  • Cover a dental implant
  • Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth
  • Cover a tooth that has had root canal treatment

What is the Process for Getting a Dental Crown with CEREC Technology?

With CEREC dental technology, the process of getting your crown is a simple one. Here’s what we do when you come in for a crown:

  1. Prepare the Tooth. We’ll prepare your tooth by examining it and administering an anesthetic. Then, we’ll remove decay and infected tissue from the tooth.
  2. Get an Image. Now that your tooth has been prepared, we’ll take a digital picture of it that will go straight to the CEREC machine for analysis.
  3. Convert the Image. The CEREC software will then convert the digital picture into a 3-dimensional model of your tooth. We’ll then use this software to design a well-fitting crown.
  4. Make the Crown. The CEREC machine then creates the crown we designed for you in the shade of your natural teeth. This process takes no more than 20 minutes.
  5. Place the Crown. Once the crown is made, we’ll check the fit and make any revisions if necessary. Then, we’ll bond it to your tooth and polish it. Once this step is complete, you’re ready to go!

Tips for Living with a Dental Crown

To ensure the longevity of your crown, it is recommended that you brush the crowned tooth 3 times a day and floss once daily. You also might want to use a toothpaste specially designed for sensitivity, because a crowned tooth may respond differently to hot or cold temperatures. Finally, to avoid fracturing the crown, you’ll want to avoid chewing hard objects like ice and popcorn hulls.

If you would like a consultation for CEREC dental crowns, we make it easy to schedule an appointment with us. You can request an appointment online by clicking here, or you can call our office at 330.578.1778.