It used to be that when you needed a dental crown, the process took weeks. First, your dentists would have to design your crown and send all the measurements off to a laboratory. You would wear a temporary crown for a while, and then — what seemed like ages later — you would get your beautiful new restoration. Fortunately, CEREC in Fargo is changing the way people think about dental crowns. What is CEREC, and how can it benefit you?
CEREC — the Basics
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or for CERamic REConstruction. Whichever way you think of it, though, it is an innovative system that allows your dentists in Fargo to design and create your ceramic crown in just one visit. No more temporary crowns. No more waiting weeks to get your smile back.
With CEREC, your dentists uses a specialized camera to take a picture of the tooth that needs the crown. CEREC’s computer uses the photo and turns it into a 3D image, which becomes the basis for the restorative piece. The milling machine then carves the crown out of a single piece of porcelain.
CEREC crowns are just as sturdy as the ones that you would have to wait weeks for, and since they’re made of porcelain, they look natural in your mouth. No one will have to know that you’ve had some dental work done!
What to Expect with CEREC
The CEREC process is pretty straightforward. First, your dentists will perform an examination to determine if you need dental crowns in Fargo. Then, he or she will prepare your tooth. This may involve performing a root canal, smoothing out a tooth’s rough edges, or filling in a tooth to make sure it’s strong enough to support a crown. Then, the dentists will use CEREC to create your new pearly white.
CEREC works well whether you need one crown or several. In addition to creating caps for existing teeth, it can also make pontics that attach to dental implants. It can even craft bridges that replace several teeth at once.
Do You Need a CEREC Crown?
Anyone who needs a dental crown is a candidate for CEREC restorations. You might benefit from this technology if:
- An old crown is cracked or otherwise damaged.
- You want to replace an old metal crown with something that looks more natural.
- One of your teeth has a large cavity and needs to be protected from further damage.
- You’ve had a root canal.
- You’re missing one or more teeth and are ready to get your smile back.
Thanks to CEREC, getting a dental crown doesn’t have to be a hassle. Why not visit your Fargo dentists to learn more about this exciting technology?
About the Author
Dr. Stacy Goodwill is your friendly, experienced dentists at Cornerstone Dental in Fargo, North Dakota. She and her team offer CEREC crowns in addition to a range of other services that are designed to help patients have healthy, attractive smiles. If you have questions about same-day crowns, contact our office at 701-237-3583.