CEREC Crowns
Our office proudly utilizes CEREC technology for restorations. With this new technology, we can create ceramic restorations, including crowns, fillings and veneers, right in our office, so it will only take a single appointment.
A digital 3D camera creates a digital image, replacing the more traditional impression. The computer-aided design (CAD) software enables us to design and create a precise restoration specific to your dental needs. These highly durable restorations can also be color-matched for a more natural looking smile.
Cerec® is a registered trademark of Sirona Dental Systems.
Lab Crowns
A crown is a permanent covering that fits over an original tooth that is either decayed, damaged or cracked. Crowns are made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, acrylic resin or a mix of these materials. Porcelain generally has the most natural appearance, although it is often less durable.
The treatment plan for a patient receiving a crown involves:
- Numbing the tooth to remove the decay in or around it.
- Re-sculpturing the tooth to provide an ideal fit for the crown.
- Making an impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made crown (usually takes one to two weeks).
- Making a temporary crown out of acrylic resin and fitting it onto the tooth during the interim period when the permanent custom-made crown is being created.
- Applying the permanent crown (when received from the lab) by removing the temporary crown and fitting the permanent one onto the tooth.
- After ensuring that the crown has the proper look and fit, the dentist cements it into place.
- This process generally consists of a minimum of 2-3 visits over a three to four week period.
Once the procedure is completed, proper dental hygiene, including daily brushing and flossing, is required to maintain healthy, bacteria-free teeth, gums and crowns. This helps in the prevention of gum disease. Given proper care, your crowns can last a lifetime.
Veneers & Bonding
Today we have exciting new biomaterials that can give your smile a lift without invasive treatments.
Porcelain Veneers
Ultra-thin porcelain veneers can correct chipped, weakened or discolored teeth. No more yellow. No more gaps or embarrassing chips. And veneers can return real structural integrity to damaged teeth, while leaving them looking as good (or possibly better) than the originals.
Veneers are custom-made to fit over your natural teeth, with a finish more translucent to blend in with surrounding teeth. So people won’t notice your tooth, they’ll simply see your beautiful, natural smile.
Common problems that veneers are used for:
- Spaces between the teeth
- Broken or chipped teeth
- Unsightly, stained or discolored teeth
- Permanently stained or discolored teeth
- Crooked or misshapen teeth
Bonding
Bonding is often used to improve the appearance of your teeth and enhance your smile. As the name indicates, composite material, either a plastic or resin, is bonded to an existing tooth. Unlike veneers or crowns, composite bonding removes little, if any, of the original tooth.
Composite bonds are not as durable and long-lasting as veneers and crowns and may need to be re-touched or replaced in the future. Composite bonds stain more easily and require proper care and regular cleaning. To ensure the longest possible duration of the bonding, composites should be brushed and flossed daily. Common staining elements include coffee, tea, tobacco, foods and candy.
Bonding is a common solution for:
- Fixing or repairing chipped or cracked teeth
- Reducing unsightly gaps or spaces between teeth
- Hiding discoloration or faded areas on the tooth’s surface
Composite bonding has many advantages:
- It is a quick process, which typically lasts less than one hour.
- It does not reduce the tooth’s original structure and is relatively inexpensive.
- Composite resins come in many different shades and provide better matching of shades to the natural color of your teeth.
Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening is a procedure that lightens teeth and helps to remove stains and discoloration. We offer an at home tooth whitening system that involves placing a gel-like whitening solution in a tray that is custom fit to your mouth.
Are you ready for your new smile? Wait no more!
