A crown and bridge procedure is one of the most popular services that dentists offer. Crowns and bridges are known as fixed prosthetic devices that are cemented on top of existing teeth and implants in order to cover a tooth or fill a gap in your tooth line.

There can be a variety of reasons why people can develop a gap in their teeth including a physical impact or a decayed tooth that finally breaks down and falls out.

Whatever the reason may be, a gap in your teeth can potentially create many negative consequences if it is not filled in fairly soon.

The traditional crown and bridge procedure

It wasn't too long ago when getting a crown and bridge at your local dental office required careful planning and multiple visits. Making time for an appointment meant that you had to coordinate time off from work and freeze a few hours out of your schedule for this procedure.

At a time when more employers are burdening their workers with more responsibilities and longer hours, it can be easy to see why some people will hesitate to make the commitment to get their crown and bridge to cover that tooth gap in their smile.

Traditional crown and bridge procedures required two visits. During the first trip, the dentist will prepare the teeth, make a mould and place a provisional restoration to fill the gap. The second visit, which usually takes place a couple of weeks later, is when the permanent crown is finally ready for use and placed accordingly.

The benefits of CEREC

Today, advanced dental processes like CEREC use CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) systems which enable patients to get their teeth restored in a single visit.

CEREC, which stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, is finally offering people all over the country a convenient way to save time and improved results thanks to the advances of this amazing technology.

Unlike traditional impressions which required using the notoriously uncomfortable and nausea-provoking impression material to make your teeth impressions, the CEREC process uses a scanner to take digital impressions and milling machine to make a crown or bridge. The impressions are significantly more comfortable and are highly accurate as well.

Chewing comfortably is an incredibly important issue with patients that have crown and bridge procedures done. In the past, most doctors used pressed ceramic and metal, CEREC now uses a single block of solid ceramic or zirconia materials to ensure comfortable chewing for years to come.

CEREC offers patients many advantages when compared to the traditional crown and bridge procedures including increased safety, longer-lasting restorations and a much natural-looking shade of enamel.

Although the CEREC process has been around for years, the costs associated with the procedures were often seen as prohibitive. Thanks to the advances in technology however, more people are getting access to this incredibly advanced and convenient technology.

Visit us at King West Dentistry to see if CEREC is right for your crown and bridge requirements.

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