Dental crowns in just one visit
By Dr. Chrys Constantinou, Westlake Dental Associates
Modern dentistry emerged in the 19th century when the pioneers of the nascent profession spurred innovative techniques to rescue and restore teeth.
Today, a person getting a tooth crowned owes a debt of gratitude to those early adopters of technology—and, lest we forget, anesthesia.
I know, the marvels of modern dentistry start to wear a little thin by the second appointment. The process of a getting a crown can start to feel like pulling teeth, and you can become convinced that modern dentistry is mired in the dark ages. But rest assured, modern dentistry has moved into the 21st century and gone digital.
The CEREC machine makes it possible to have a toothed crowned—fitted, fabricated and affixed—in a single appointment.
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics—that’s a mouthful—or CERamic REConstruction and, speaking of which, the CEREC machine makes the need for those goopy dental impressions obsolete. Instead, the CEREC machine utilizes digital dental impressions.
A crown can be fitted virtually, using a computer-aided design (CAD) program. Digital mapping leads to a more accurate fitting by precisely follows the contours of a person’s mouth.
From a digital impression, the CEREC machine can fabricate a crown within 15 minutes. After the dentist adds a few finishing touches—color matching, polishing and glazing—the crown is ready to be affixed.
Ceramic provides a natural, tooth-like appearance and is more biocompatible than traditional crown materials, such as gold or amalgam, a mix of mercury and metal alloys. The CEREC machine compresses multiple appointments, often separated by weeks, into a single appointment.
Westlake Dental Associates carries on its profession’s tradition of innovation. The CEREC machine is an investment in our patients’ future.
Westlake Dental Associates is located at 25575 Center Ridge Road in Westlake. Summer hours are Monday, 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; Tuesday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Wednesday, 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call 440-835-8999 or visit WestlakeDentalAssociates.com.