Countless dentists recommend dental crowns to patients for a lot of very good reasons. But until recently, there’s been a downside to that recommendation — time and inconvenience. Traditional dental crowns have required attending multiple appointments over the period of several weeks. Thanks to developments and investments in computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and specialized materials, though, the era of inconvenience is at an end. Now, your cosmetic dentist in Kelowna can provide crowns in just one appointment.
Why do dentists recommend crowns at all?
Crowns are hollow thimble-like caps that are designed to fit tightly over and around the entire circumference of a weak, damaged, discoloured or misshapen tooth from the biting surface to the edge of your gums. There are five scenarios in which dentists frequently recommend dental crowns in Kelowna:
- If you have a tooth that has received repeated fillings due to cycles of tooth decay, that tooth may not be strong enough to withstand the pressure of biting and chewing on its own. Placing a strong crown over that tooth will restore its function and prevent the need to have it pulled
- A tooth that has undergone successful root canal therapy is infection-free but somewhat weaker and still vulnerable to re-infection despite being sealed and temporarily filled. The dentists at your dental clinic in Kelowna will recommend a newly infection-free tooth be capped with a crown to complete the root canal procedure
- Dental implants are the preferred solution for replacing missing teeth. Crowns connected to titanium implants placed in your jaw replace lost teeth in the most natural, stable and permanent fashion possible
- If dental implants are not an option for you for any reason, crowns placed on healthy teeth also act as anchors to hold traditional dental bridges that, in turn, hold artificial teeth in gaps left behind by missing teeth
- Teeth that are misshapen, too small, discoloured in ways that can not be bleached away, and worn down by constant clenching and grinding can be protected (and their appearance protected) by covering and surrounding them with a crown
How do dentists provide crowns in just one day?
Investments and training in CAD and CAM now allow dentists to provide crowns in a couple of hours as opposed to appointments over several weeks. The process involves five steps:
- Your dentist in Kelowna will assess the condition of your teeth and gums and take a medical history to confirm you are a good candidate for dental crowns (or discuss alternative solutions with you)
- Your dentist will remove a small layer of material from the affected tooth to make room for your new crown to fit securely and stably over the tooth once bonded in place. If necessary to adjust the shape and structure of your tooth due to cavities or tooth decay, your dentist will use filling material to reshape the prepared tooth to fit the crown
- An electronic scanner will be used to take three-dimensional images that will be transmitted to a computer in the dentist’s office. That computer will use CAD technology to design a crown to fit your tooth precisely
- Your dentist will review the “draft” crown, make any adjustments necessary and then begin the CAM-guided process of milling your crown using a CAM-guided milling machine in the office while you wait or run errands if you prefer
- Once the milling process is complete (usually in an hour or so), your dentist will confirm it fits properly before cementing it in place permanently.
Yes, it’s true. You can now get dental crowns necessary to protect and perfect your teeth in a single appointment as easy as that. If the utility of crowns and the convenience of getting them in a single appointment appeals to you, contact a dental clinic near you to confirm they’re appropriate for your particular needs.