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CEREC was first used in the middle of the 1980s, but did not become common in dental offices until the 2000s.
Before you get a crown, Dr. Jeffrey Anderson will need to confirm that it's’ right for you. This may be done as a separate appointment or as part of the CEREC process, depending on your case.
To begin the CEREC process, Dr. Anderson will clean and numb the treatment area, then remove damaged and decayed tooth material to create a strong platform that will hold the crown in place.
After your tooth has been trimmed, Dr. Anderson will use a hand-held scanner to take a 3D image of your mouth. This will be uploaded to a computer, and Dr. Anderson will design your crown using a special computer program.
Once Dr. Anderson has finalized your crown design, he will load a piece of tooth-colored porcelain into the CEREC machine, which will automatically carve the crown.
Dr. Anderson will remove the crown and check its fit. If everything looks perfect, he will attach it to your tooth permanently using powerful dental adhesive. This completes the same-day CEREC crown procedure.
The main difference between traditional crowns and CEREC is the treatment length. Traditional crowns take 2-3 weeks, since your information must be sent to a dental lab, the crown must be built, then it must be sent back to your dentist.
In contrast, CEREC is done in one day and in one appointment. This also means you can avoid wearing a temporary resin crown to protect your tooth while you wait for your crown. These crowns are sometimes bulky and uncomfortable, and may feel loose in your mouth.
Another difference is that while traditional dentures usually use dental putty and trays to take impressions of your teeth, CEREC uses a hand-held scanner. Most patients find this to be more comfortable, especially if they have a strong gag reflex.
If you’re a good candidate for a dental crown, CEREC is likely a good choice for you. It can be used in the vast majority of cases where a traditional dental crown would be recommended, such as repairing a tooth damaged by a cavity or dental trauma.
There are some exceptions, though. For example, the scanner used in the CEREC process can’t capture an accurate image if the tooth is broken below the gum line. A traditional crown may be required to treat this condition.
To find out if CEREC is right for you, just come into Vista Smiles. Dr. Anderson can examine your mouth and help you learn more about your options for restoring your smile in Vista.
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