Does a tooth damaged by decay, infection or oral trauma have to be extracted? Sometimes it does, but many thousands of teeth receive dental crowns to restore them to full strength and great aesthetics. Dr. Norman C. Sommers and Dr. Adam P. Sommers offer innovative CEREC crowns to restore marred smiles. Learn about their features from these highly experienced family dentists.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a reliable restoration which covers a damaged tooth from the gum line to the top of the tooth. The reasons for placing a crown vary: sometimes a tooth is so severely decayed that it can no longer be filled, or a tooth may be broken due to a car accident or fall and lose much of its structure above the jaw bone.
Whatever the case, Dr. Sommers believes in preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible, rather than extracting a tooth and having the patient experience:
- An unattractive smile gap
- Weakening and drifting of teeth adjacent to the gap
- Impaired chewing and speaking
- Bone and gum recession
After evaluating the condition of the damaged tooth and the patient’s oral health, Dr. Sommers may recommend a dental crown to restore the full form and function of the tooth. As a patient, you should know the differences between traditional crowns and one-day CEREC crowns in Norwalk.
The Traditional Crown
A traditional crown is crafted from metal alloy, gold or porcelain fused to metal (PFM). The dentist selects the material based on where the crown will be placed, on cost and on other factors.
For example, a traditional crown takes more than one dental visit to complete. X-rays and oral impressions help formulate a treatment plan to send to an outside dental lab for fabrication of the restoration. Typically, the patient must wait several days for his or her crown to return from the lab.
During the treatment process, the dentist removes the damaged enamel, shapes the tooth and places a temporary crown. During the next visit, he bonds the restoration in place and adjusts the fit and bite.
While a traditional dental crown supports good smile aesthetics and oral function, it may not look totally lifelike, particularly if fashioned from gold. Also, a porcelain fused to metal crown often shows a dark line just above the gums, a cosmetic defect which shows more over time as gums recede.
The Norwalk CEREC crown
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic. A CEREC crown is a beautiful, all-porcelain crown made right in the treatment room. Dr. Sommers likes placing CEREC crown in the front of the mouth because of their superior aesthetics. However, they also function well on back teeth where crushing forces are greatest.
Qualified patients enjoy getting their CEREC crowns created and placed in just one two-hour visit to Sommers Family Dentistry. Fully-certified in the CEREC process, Dr. Sommers uses CAD-CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) software to make a digital impression of the patient’s mouth.The CEREC milling machine takes Dr. Sommers’s instructions and translates them into a color-matched, perfectly-formed crown.
The milling process takes 15 to 20 minutes. When completed, Dr. Sommers polishes the crown, adjusts its color, if needed, and bonds it on the prepared tooth.
Which Kind is Right for You?
If you have a failing or compromised tooth, let Dr. Sommers help you determine if a CEREC crown is right for you. Please contact Sommers Family Dentistry today to arrange a restorative dentistry consultation.
