You wake up and immediately go into 5th gear. You need to get the kids ready for school, and your partner usually needs a little help getting out of bed as well. Once everyone else is out the door, you can finally throw on your own clothes and head to work. Suddenly you’re cooking dinner, and before you know it, you’re back in bed. If most of your days fly by like this, it can seem impossible to find time to get your damaged teeth fixed. You’re too busy thinking about everyone else. People like you need dental care that fits into your packed schedule, and this is why Dr. Richard Fossum, your dentist in Temple, wants to give you a dental crown in just one visit.
The Old vs. The New
Traditionally, whenever you needed to get a crown, it would take 2-3 visits over the course of a week or more. After the first visit, where your tooth had been prepared to fit the crown, you would have to wear a temporary restoration while the real one was being made. A week doesn’t seem like a long time until you constantly have to worry about one of your teeth falling out. Plus, people are busier than ever, so scheduling one, let alone two appointments is just not feasible. These are now problems of the past thanks to one-visit crowns.
This is possible because of CEREC in Temple, which stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEramic REConstruction. It uses highly-advanced software to scan your mouth, design your crown, and mill it all in-office. Previously, an outside dental lab would be needed to fabricate your crown, slowing down the process and making it much more expensive. Everything is accomplished under one roof here, and this not only saves you time, but gives you a better result as well.
What is the Procedure Like?
The process to get a same day crown is as easy as it is fast. It involves 4 simple steps:
- Dr. Fossum will prepare your tooth to fit the crown
- A digital scanner will be used to take a high resolution image of your teeth and mouth
- This will be given to a CAD/CAM program that will design and mill your crown
- Dr. Fossum will then place the crown into your mouth
This process has numerous advantages over the traditional one. In addition to being much quicker (only taking around an hour), it is also much more comfortable. The impression materials used in the past were messy and caused many patients to gag–they are now no longer needed. The digital scanner is less invasive, and creates a better model of your tooth and mouth. This helps produce a crown that will fit better and last longer. The crowns themselves are made out of a high-quality porcelain. This material is strong, durable, and looks completely natural among your other teeth. The porcelain is even non-porous, making it practically stain-proof. One-visit crowns are very easy to maintain, and can last for decades with simple brushing and flossing. They are one of the most complete and convenient ways to fix your smile.
How Can I Get One?
If you want to get your damaged teeth fixed in just one visit, make an appointment with us today. You deserve a little time to take care of yourself, and we’re ready and able to help.