What are dental crowns, and how do they work?

Avatar

Dr Aran Moorthy

This article was written by Australian dental surgeon Dr Aran Moorthy, BDS. Dr Moorthy has a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Adelaide. You can read more about Dr Moorthy here >

Same-day CEREC Crown machine

What Are Dental Crowns?

A crown is a tooth-shaped, prosthetic device used by dentists to cover or restore damaged teeth. The crown acts as a ‘cap’ for the tooth and helps to reinstate the tooth’s appearance and strength.

At Mills Road Dental Centre, your new porcelain crowns will look and feel almost identical to your natural teeth.

With our new CEREC machine’s advanced 3D technology, your dentist is able to create natural-looking, perfectly fitting dental crowns right here in our clinic in just one appointment! (That’s why they’re often called ‘same-day crowns’, ‘one-visit crowns’ or simply ‘fast-turnaround crowns.)

Your dentist may recommend a dental crown for a number of reasons, whether they be cosmetic, preventative or rehabilitation. These include:

  • Improving the appearance of damaged, cracked, misshaped or badly stained teeth
  • Providing protection to weak teeth to prevent breakages
  • Cover and protect a dental implant, a tooth with a large filling or root canal
  • Supporting your dental implants

What to Expect From a Typical Same-Day CEREC Crown Appointment

Your Mills Road dentist will firstly assess and prepare the area based on your  unique requirements. The CEREC machine’s camera then captures a 3-D image of your tooth and you and your dentist will be able to view this scan directly on the computer screen.

Using the 3-D scan, your dentist will then designs your crown on-site, milling it out of a ceramic block to create the crown before it’s polished, bonded and fitted. Thanks to the advanced 3-D modelling and precision machinery, your crown can be fitted in less than 2 hours.

Why CEREC Crowns?

There are many benefits of a CEREC restoration. (CEREC stands for Chair-side Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics.) The introduction of new 3D technology such as CEREC machines means no more lengthy waits or multiple visits in order to have crowns fitted. Best of all, the process of fitting temporary crowns is eliminated, and you can leave the practise with permanent, durable, comfortable, stain-resistant crowns after just one visit.

A quick, efficient CEREC crown treatment costs no more than conventional crowns, plus the procedure is far less invasive.

Inlays, Onlays and Crowns – what’s the difference?

Quite often we’re asked what the difference is between inlays and onlays vs crowns, and why one procedure may be chosen over another.

In the case that your teeth only have minor decay or damage, your dentist may recommend an inlay or onlay to restore any damage. Also known as porcelain fillings, an inlay or onlay is a great solution if the tooth does not require a crown “cap”, and can help avoid the need for additional dental work in the future.

This blog page has been fact-checked by Dentist Dr Aran Moorthy.

Find Out More About Same-Day Crowns

To find out what solution is best for the preservation of your teeth, contact Mills Road Dental Centre today and book an appointment with one of our friendly dental team members.

Did you find this article helpful? Why not SHARE it!