One of the best things about the world of dentistry is that it’s constantly changing. Safer, better dental technologies are constantly being developed to help improve the patient experience. One of the best innovations to come about in recent years is the CEREC in-office milling machine, which allows dentists to mill crowns, inlays, and other restorations in just one 90-minute appointment. Below is more information about our Apex same-day crown services.
What is a CEREC Machine?
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. Some dentists might refer to it as a “Ceramic Restoration” machine. Whatever you want to call it, this cutting-edge piece of equipment is able to digitally scan a patient’s mouth, design a replacement restoration, and mill the final product on the spot. Since the patient does not need to wait for results to come back from a dental lab, he or she can walk in needing a crown, and walk out wearing the final product, without having to wear a temporary crown for two weeks, as is the traditional procedure.
What Should I Expect at a Same-Day Crown Appointment?
When a patient comes into our Apex cosmetic dentist office for a new crown, veneer, or inlay, the first step is scanning the area of the mouth where the restoration is needed. Dr. Hansen or a member of his team will use a highly sensitive precision wand to digitally scan the area and build a virtual model of the mouth and teeth. One of the coolest part of this process is that the patient can watch the model being built on the screen!
Next, Dr. Hansen will inspect the virtual model to make sure it is an accurate representation of the patient’s teeth. If the model needs to be tweaked, he is able to perform alterations until it represents the patient’s mouth exactly. Once the digital model has been approved, the CEREC machine designs the crown, veneer, or inlay, and sends it to an in-office milling machine, which which creates the restoration out of color-matched porcelain. This restoration is final, not temporary, and is of the same quality we would expect to receive from a traditional dental lab.
Finally, the restoration is test-fitted to the area, final adjustments are made, and the restoration is permanently bonded to the tooth. The patient is able to achieve a perfect restoration in just a single visit.
Benefits of CEREC Crowns
Needless to say, CEREC is an amazing improvement over traditional dental methods, which typically require patients to wear a temporary restoration while waiting for the final result to be milled. Temporary crowns often become dislodged, and can then easily be swallowed or lost, leaving the tooth unprotected and at high risk for more damage. Plus, it’s just inconvenient to have to return for another appointment! The CEREC procedure allows patients to get fast dental restorations almost as soon as they are needed.
Get Same-Day Crowns in Apex from Hansen Dentistry!
If you live in Apex, NC and are in need of a dental restoration, stop by Hansen Dentistry today. We can’t wait to meet you and help you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile for life!
