From Damaged to Restored in a Day: When CEREC Crowns Make Sense

There are a lot of reasons why people don’t go to the dentist when they should. Perhaps it is a lack of dental insurance that can make the cost of certain treatments feel out of reach. Maybe it’s that they simply don’t understand the importance of preventive dentistry and taking care of their teeth and gums. And for others, it’s simply the feeling that there isn’t enough time to do all the things that need to get done, and carving time out of the day to go to the dentist is one of those things.

When we talk to patients and tell them they need one or more dental crowns, that conversation about time inevitably comes up. Who has time these days to spend hours in the dental chair or, even worse, to make multiple appointments to complete a single treatment?

Well, we have some good news. If you need a dental crown, the days of needing multiple appointments are gone. Today, we offer same day crowns. More specifically, we offer CEREC crowns, and we promise, they’re not too good to be true.

Common Types of Tooth Damage 

Before we get too far into explaining all of the amazing things about same day crowns and their role in restorative dentistry, let’s talk about what causes tooth damage in the first place. Teeth go through a lot over time, and even with great oral care habits, damage can still happen. From everyday wear to unexpected injuries, there are several reasons a tooth may need more than a simple filling.

Some of the most common types of tooth damage that may call for a dental crown include cracks and chips from biting down on something hard or from an accidental injury; large cavities or worn teeth that can no longer support a standard filling; and  teeth weakened by previous dental work, such as multiple fillings or older restorations.

What are CEREC crowns? 

Small cavities are most often treated with a filling. But larger cavities, cracks, and chips are more often treated with a dental crown. Inthe past, your dentist would usually require two different appointments to fit and place your permanent crown. During that first appointment, X-rays and measurements would be taken, and you would be fitted with a temporary crown. Then, you’d come back a few weeks later to have the temporary crown removed and your permanent crown put in.

Today, dental technology has come a long way. Patients can now benefit from CEREC crowns. CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, and it’s a pretty awesome technology. 

With this approach, we use digital imaging to capture a detailed 3D model of your tooth. That image is used to design your custom crown right in the office. Then, an in-house milling machine creates the crown from a solid block of ceramic while you wait. Once it’s ready, your dentist places and adjusts your crown to ensure a comfortable fit, all in a single visit.

When CEREC Crowns Make Sense

Don’t we all want to save a little bit of time now and again? If you’re like most people, your hand just shot up in the air, because you, too, have too much on your plate and not enough time to get it all done. And, you know that repairing a chipped or broken tooth or a big cavity needs to be high on the priority list. 

For this very reason, same day crowns make sense in so many ways. There are multiple  benefits you can expect when you get a CEREC crown from Staley Dental in Boise, ID. Because your dental crown can be crafted and placed in a single visit, you can avoid the need for a temporary crown, which is not customized to your smile and can feel less stable. Our digital imaging technology means you avoid having the uncomfortable putty molds used to get an impression of your teeth. The convenience of same day crowns also means you can get back to your life more quickly, confident that you have a strong and functional restoration that blends in seamlessly with your smile. 

Benefits of Restoring a Tooth in One Day

If you’re not completely sold on the benefits of CEREC crowns yet, let’s tie it all together for you.

• Skip the temporary crown and avoid a second appointment.
• Get back to eating and speaking normally much sooner.
• Fewer injections and less time in the dental chair.

In need of tooth repairs? See if CEREC crowns are right for your smile.

We love that same day crowns can help our patients get back to their busy lives more easily than ever. We also appreciate that this approach to restorative dentistry does not sacrifice quality. 

So, if you are in need of tooth repairs from damage or decay, now is the time to get an appointment on the calendar. With CEREC crowns, you’ll be able to get back to your schedule in no time (and your tooth will feel a whole lot better, too).