Natural-looking, Custom Restorations that Last
Repair Damaged Teeth to Restore Strength and Function
Throughout your lifetime, your natural teeth undergo a lot of wear and tear. Sometimes, this stress leads to cracking, chipping, and other significant damage. If a filling or bonding procedure is not sufficient to restore the tooth’s structure, we may recommend a Porcelain Crown.
Porcelain Crowns
A porcelain crown is an excellent option to restore the form and function of a damaged tooth. Made of high-quality, natural-looking porcelain, a crown covers a damaged tooth to provide strength and structure.
Dental-grade porcelain is durable enough to withstand the normal wear and tear of daily use. Aesthetically speaking, it is an ideal substitute for natural tooth enamel. The porcelain can be tinted and shaped to match the surrounding teeth for a seamless appearance.
Beautiful Results
Dr. Lancaster and Dr. Britt closely replicate the original look of the natural tooth enamel and its original strength and resilience to replace the external portion of the tooth. Dental crowns are not limited to replacing missing teeth but can also be used simply to enhance your overall appearance.
Do You Need a Crown?
People located in Brunswick, GA and the surrounding area suffering with significant tooth decay, effects of a traumatic accident, or severe enamel erosion may benefit from dental crowns. Additionally, crowns are a great solution if the integrity of teeth becomes compromised as a result of grinding or clenching their teeth.
Dental Crowns are ideal for repairing and restoring
- Broken Teeth
- Cracked Teeth
- Severely Decayed Teeth
- Worn Teeth
Crowns are also great for concealing
- Discoloration
- Misalignment
- Unevenness
The same day crown process with Lancaster and Britt
From design to sintering
The CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) crown process allows dentists to create and place custom-made dental crowns in a single appointment. This is achieved through a combination of digital imaging, computer-aided design (CAD), and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) (CAD/CAM) technology.
Here's a breakdown of the design, milling, and sintering process:
1. Digital impressions
- Instead of messy traditional impressions, dentists use a specialized intraoral camera to capture accurate 3D images of the prepared tooth and surrounding areas.
- This digital impression is transferred to the CEREC CAD software.
2. Crown design
- The software creates a 3D model of the tooth and proposes an initial crown design.
- Our in house Lab technician then customizes the design, making adjustments to the shape, size, and color to ensure a perfect fit, optimal aesthetics, and proper bite function.
- Patients can even preview the crown and provide feedback before the final design is approved.
3. Milling
- Once the design is finalized, the data is sent to the CEREC milling unit.
- A ceramic or porcelain block matching the patient's tooth shade is selected and inserted into the milling machine.
- Diamond-coated burs precisely carve the crown from the block according to the digital design.
- The milling process typically takes about 15-20 minutes.
- After milling, the dentist removes the crown from the block, removes the sprue (connection point), and polishes the crown.
4. Sintering (if needed)
- If the crown is made from zirconia (a strong ceramic material), it might undergo a sintering process after milling.
- The CEREC SpeedFire furnace heats the zirconia crown to a high temperature, densifying and strengthening the material.
- This sintering process can take approximately 14-15 minutes.
- The sintering process can be combined with a glazing cycle in a single furnace.
- After sintering, the crown is allowed to cool.
5. Final placement
- The dentist checks the crown's fit and makes any final adjustments.
- The crown is then permanently bonded to the prepared tooth using dental cement.
The CEREC crown process offers several advantages, including the convenience of a single appointment, precise fit, natural appearance, and the elimination of temporary crowns and messy impressions.
Create the Smile of Your Dreams with Dental Crowns
Because dental crowns are so natural looking, many of our patients choose them in conjunction with other cosmetic treatments as part of their smile makeover plan. A combination of crowns and veneers, for example, allows you to achieve a more uniform smile that is not only strong but also beautiful.
For more information about how we can use dental crowns to restore the integrity and appearance of your smile, request a consultation in Brunswick, GA.
