What Are Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are caps and are made of gold or porcelain. It fits over the top of a tooth entirely and covers it the way down to the gum line. Due to the advanced dental technology, crowns can be placed in a single visit with the help of the CEREC 3D design and milling system.

A crown strengthens an existing tooth or implant and improves its appearance. It becomes the new face of the tooth, in essence, and is usually color matched to the other teeth that surround it. With all the research that exists showing that smiles are one of the first things people notice about someone, Dr. Abelar feels you should be very concerned about the quality of the care that goes into taking care of one of your most valuable assets.

How is the CEREC crown different from a usual crown?

Usually, for getting a crown placed, it requires a two-appointment process. In the first appointment, the tooth is prepared for the crown, and impressions are taken to be sent off to the dental lab to create the crown. That needs at least two weeks, and until then, you are made to wear a temporary crown. As the crown gets ready, you will have to return as part of the second visit and get the crown placed.

But in the case of CEREC system crowns, the dentist diagnoses and prepares the tooth. The crown is designed, milled, and placed in just a single visit on the same day.

What is the process for same day dental crowns?

In years past, getting a crown was a lengthy process. First, impressions of the tooth needed to be made. Then, the cavity had to be drilled away. Next, a temporary crown would be placed, and finally, after several weeks at the lab, your crown would be ready. You would then need a second appointment to have the temporary crown removed and the permanent crown installed.

Today we have a much easier option to getting a dental crown placed. It’s called the CEREC crown system, and it can be done at Dr. Abelar’s office in just one visit! Here’s how it works:

1. First, we remove the bad stuff – the damage and decay from your tooth.
2. Next, we take measurements and photos of the tooth, both for your file and for the CEREC machine to make your beautiful, realistic dental crown
3. Next, the data from your tooth measurements is sent to the CEREC machine, where your tooth is milled, right in Dr. Abelar’s office.
4. Once your crown is complete, Dr. Abelar will place it in your tooth with a temporary cement. This will allow us to make sure the tooth fits properly in its space and will be comfortable for your bite.
5. Once a good fit is ensured, Dr. Abelar will remove the temporary cement and cement the crown into place with permanent cement. Your new crown will be permanently adhered to your tooth, and you’ll be all set!

The benefit to CEREC crowns is the time saved in the process of getting your new crown. The entire process takes about three to four hours, not two weeks, so you can save yourself valuable time and get a high-quality, natural-looking, and feeling crown!

Want to learn more about Dental Crowns?

At Dr. Abelar’s office, dental crowns in San Diego, CA are expected to last 15 to 20 years. He uses top quality materials and has been perfecting his technique through years of instruction and keeping up with the latest technology and techniques with regular training. He feels cutting corners with crowns may be one of the worst places to choose cost over quality.

Call the office to schedule an appointment today or to get more information on the quality materials and skills he uses in all of is his procedures every day.