What is a crown?
A crown is a lab-made cap that covers the part of your tooth that you can see; that is, the part of your tooth that isn’t covered by gums. Crowns restore teeth that are broken or decayed and provide strength and function. Crowns are permanently fixed to the root of your natural tooth, which means they can’t be removed and don’t require special care.
What is Cerec?
CEREC stands for (chairside conservativel restorations of esthetic ceramic), a technique that uses computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) to create natural-looking porcelain restorations, like crowns, onlays and bridges, in a single visit right in the office. That means natural-looking, durable restorative treatments that normally would take multiple visits to complete now can be completed in just one visit. Advantages of CEREC include:
- Restorations without metal
- Visually aesthetic restoration
- Computer designed and fabricated which allows perfectly sealed teeth without leakage and cavities.
- CEREC only restores the missing tooth structure precisely.
- The conservative restoration results in preservation of tooth structure.
When is a crown appropriate?
Crowns are generally used to restore teeth that were damaged by trauma or decay when the damage is more than can be safely and effectively repaired with a filling. Crowns can alleviate pain, toothaches, sensitivity to hot and cold, sharpness, or pain when biting.
Will people know I have a crown?
When crowns are made by dentists who specialize in restorative dentistry, they’re very difficult to distinguish from a natural tooth. They are permanent and formulated to match your existing natural teeth. As a matter of fact, there’s a very good chance you know several people with crowns and have never noticed.
How long do same-day crowns last?
The life of your crown can easily exceed 10 years with appropriate care and routine dental checkups. Because the life of your crown is so extensive, the return on investment is high.
Are crowns covered by insurance?
If you have dental insurance that covers restorative crowns, same-day crowns are generally covered under those terms. The friendly staff at Pearl Dentistry NYC can assist you in determining your dental benefits and planning for out of pocket costs that remain.
Is the procedure painful?
You will be given local anesthesia before the procedure, which ensures you don’t experience pain while the dentist works on your tooth. However, because tissue must be pushed back to allow for crown insertion, soreness in the days following the procedure is common. Over-the-counter pain relievers can reduce pain and inflammation while you heal.
How do I care for my new crown?
Caring for your crown isn’t much different than caring for your natural teeth:
- Brush and floss your teeth every day, treating your crown as a natural tooth
- Schedule a routine dental checkup at least twice a year
- Avoid chewing hard foods, ice, or other hard objects
