Once upon a time, dentalware such as crowns, bridges, veneers, and dentures had to be crafted at a lab by using a physical mold of your mouth. Thanks to digital technology and amazing dental equipment, we no longer have to wait around for a lab.
What Are Crowns and Bridges?
A dental crown is a cap that fits over the top of your tooth. Crowns are used when your natural enamel is too broken, damaged, or worn out to continue protecting the tooth. For example, if a cavity has spread too far across the tooth and eaten away a large portion of it, a crown may be the best way to repair that damage.
Bridges are simply sequences of connected crowns. These are used for spanning—or bridging—gaps in the bite. They will be attached to the adjacent teeth on either side of an area with missing teeth, thus filling in those spaces with new crowns that will allow you to bite and chew with ease once again.
Both bridges and crowns are custom-designed for you from high-grade dental porcelain. What’s more, they can be made for you in just one day!
These days, we have intraoral cameras, CAD software, and digital x-rays which give us the close-up view of your mouth in clearer and more detailed ways than ever before.
What does this mean for you?
Well, those intraoral cameras are the reason that we no longer need to take a physical mold of your mouth when we craft a dental restoration for you. With this high-definition scanner, we are able to take precise measurements and images of your mouth, which are sent to the computer.
At the computer, we can use CAD software to create a crown or bridge for you. These creations are not mass-produced. Every single one is individually designed to both fit comfortably in your mouth and look great at the same time.
Once designed, that data is transferred to our CEREC mill.
The CEREC Mill
CEREC is a fantastic piece of equipment that saves everyone time and energy. This machine takes the design information and uses it to craft the actual crown or bridge right there in the office.
That’s right. You don’t have to wait around for word from a lab, and you don’t have to come back for another appointment on another day. Your dentalware is made while you’re still in the dental chair.
Because of CEREC, we can prepare and place your crown or bridge in just one sitting!
Talk to Cape Vista Dental About Same-Day Crowns and Bridges
If you are in need of a dental crown or would like to fill any gaps in your bite, Cape Vista Dental is the place to be. Don’t hesitate to call with any questions about CEREC or to set up an appointment.