Let’s be honest…no one wants to face the reality that they need to have a crown put in. Thanks to modern technology, though, the good news is that you have options!
If you’ve been looking for a dentist in San Diego, then look no further! RB Dental Excellence is here to answer your questions so that you can make the best decisions for your oral health.
Most people are pretty familiar with traditional crowns, but not many have heard of a CEREC crown. We’ll explain the difference between each of these restoration methods and everything else you need to know before scheduling an appointment with your dental clinic in San Diego.
Dentists and their patients have relied on traditional crowns for years. For people who want to improve their appearance and renew their confidence, traditional dental crowns have always come highly recommended.
When it first came out, this innovative restoration technique was praised for moving the needle on dental advancement. But recently, the development of the CEREC crown has made traditional dental crowns nearly obsolete.
If you’re scheduled to get a traditional crown procedure, you should note that the process typically requires that you make two trips to your dental office in San Diego. During your first visit, your dentist will grind the tooth down to the stump and prepare it for the cap placement. From there, X-rays of the tooth will be taken before the dentist creates an impression of the tooth that will be used to design the custom-fitted crown.
While the permanent crown is being made in the dental lab — which usually takes around 10 days to complete — you will receive a temporary crown to wear until it is time for your next appointment.
Once your crown is finally ready, you will return to the dentist’s office to have it fitted and cemented in place. To secure the tooth, a post foundation will be embedded into the jawbone. Crowns are then fused to the metal itself.
The prosthetic is made from a combination of porcelain, gold, and/or silver materials. The final product will closely resemble your natural tooth and will fit and function similarly. Overall, the traditional crown will serve as a solid replacement for a natural tooth.
However, this restoration technique is not without its shortcomings. The first major concern is how long the process takes to complete. As we mentioned earlier, it can take anywhere from two to three weeks from start to finish for a traditional crown procedure.
Although the patient will have a temporary crown in the meantime, temporary crowns can cause sensitivity and often have trouble staying in place. This, of course, is inconvenient and makes for an overall unpleasant experience. Furthermore, in addition to being quite expensive, traditional porcelain crowns are prone to chipping and cracking.
Next, let’s talk about CEREC crowns and what they can do differently.
Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic (CEREC) crowns are the new kid on the block that everyone wants to know. That’s because they are a much more efficient technology than traditional crowns and are quickly becoming the preferred option amongst dentists and patients alike.
Traditional dental crowns take weeks to get installed, while a CEREC crown can be created and put on the same day of your appointment. Yes, you read that right…we said same-day service! This is made possible because this procedure uses a computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technology that not only works faster but also fits better in your mouth.
CEREC crowns look and feel like your natural tooth and they fit perfectly into your mouth!
We’re sure by now that you’re just itching to call around and find a dentist that can install a CEREC near you. But before you do, let’s learn a little more about what happens during this procedure.
Your CEREC San Diego dentist will use a tiny camera to create a 3D impression of your mouth. From there, a ceramic crown will be made using a milling unit.
To ensure that your new crown will perfectly complement the rest of your teeth, your dentist will paint and glaze the crown to match. Once that is finished, the bonding process can begin. In just a few minutes, your new crown will be in place. Voila, it’s that quick and easy!
The entire process from start to finish only takes about two hours. Because the technology used in CEREC procedures is more precise than traditional methods, the final product looks better and is much more comfortable for the patient.
Both traditional dental crowns and CEREC dental crowns have a total lifespan of 10 to 15 years. However, this time may be shorter or longer, depending on how well the patient keeps up with good oral hygiene practices.
Keep up with your regular brushing and flossing routine and visit your dentist twice a year, and your crown can last well beyond 15 years.
You’re probably thinking that there is no way that you can afford CEREC crowns — and you’d be wrong! The price ranges between $800 to $3,000, which is approximately the same as what you would pay for a traditional crown.
Depending on the insurance provider that you use, you may be able to use your insurance to cover the cost.
Contact RB Dental Excellence to get all of the info you need about the CEREC crown. We are trained in this cutting-edge solution and we can walk you through the procedure. Call us now to schedule your initial consultation with the very best dentist 92128 has to offer!
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