Dental crowns can provide essential support for a weak, broken, or cracked tooth, or a tooth with a large cavity that will lack sufficient structural integrity to function without additional support. Crowns are also a versatile cosmetic option for covering badly misshapen or discoloured teeth, or for enclosing and protecting a tooth that has undergone successful root canal surgery. The versatility of crowns doesn’t stop there; they can hold dental bridges in place, too.
How do dental crowns work?
Think of a dental crown as a cap or thimble — from Monopoly© or your sewing kit. The crown slips over your tooth the same way that a thimble might slip over the end of your little finger. The crown is custom-designed to fit snugly over the tooth and to lend it the structural support it needs to function normally. Crowns are not caps per se, but they extend all the way to the line of your gums. You won’t be able to see or feel any seam between the crown and your natural tooth or see any of your natural teeth below the crown.
For all benefits that dental crowns have to offer, they have traditionally had at least one disadvantage — they required at least two appointments to plan, prepare, and provide. Those appointments were often separated by weeks while the crown was prepared off-site. For patients who were waiting to cap off protracted dental procedures or resolve ongoing dental issues with a crown, that wait was inconvenient… at best.
Constant advancements in dental technology and investments by dentists in Naples have eliminated that disadvantage. We can now provide you with versatile, durable, custom-fit crowns in just one appointment.
Introducing the CEREC system and process
CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. When you come to our office to be fitted with a crown for any reason, we will take an optimal impression of your mouth. Optical impressions are an alternative to traditional digital X-rays. Using a small wand-like implement, we take several pictures of your teeth from multiple angles in and around your mouth, then combine those images using specialized software. These images give us all the information we need to assess the structure of your tooth or teeth and to recommend the appropriate restoration to restore your dental function.
The next step in producing a crown in just one visit is to take a digital photograph of your mouth using the CEREC system, which specialized software will convert to a three-dimensional simulation of your crown. Once your dentist in Naples confirms the computer-aided design of your crown, your crown will be milled from a block of dental ceramic in roughly 20 minutes while you wait. Unlike traditional procedures to produce crowns, you will never have to be fit with or wear a temporary crown between appointments because there will only be one appointment.
Dental ceramic is the ideal material for manufacturing dental crowns because it is highly resistant to plaque, non-abrasive, and capable of blending naturally and discreetly with your own healthy teeth.
Once your custom-designed crown has been milled, your dentist will place it in your bit to ensure it fits perfectly and achieves the goals set when your treatment plan was developed. Finally, the crown will be bonded to your tooth. With good oral hygiene habits and careful attention to instructions your dentist will provide, CEREC crowns in Naples commonly last for 15 years and even up to 30 years.
Ceramic dental crowns are a powerful restorative and cosmetic tool in the toolbox of a dentist near you. Crowns can enhance your smile, strengthen and protect your teeth, restore normal dental function, hide discoloured or misshapen teeth, and prevent unnecessary extractions and tooth loss. Best yet? They can be planned, produced, and provided in just one appointment. If you’re ready to learn more about all the advantages of dental crowns without any of the traditional inconveniences, contact a dentist and ask if CEREC crowns in Naples are appropriate for your needs.