CEREC SAME DAY CROWNS IN FOREST HILLS AND REGO PARK, NY
Forest Hills Dental boasts some of the most advanced restorative dentistry services in the area. One of the solutions Dr. Gregory Mark provides is the option to get a same-day dental crown instead of breaking your treatment up into two separate appointments.
Our CEREC same-day dental crowns in Forest Hills are crafted of solid ceramic, for optimal aesthetics and functionality. When you smile, no one should be able to tell that you have a dental crown. Dr. Mark will carefully plan your restoration so that it blends in with the surrounding teeth when it comes to both color and contour.
What is a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are protective covers that slip over the entire surface of your tooth. They rest directly against the gumlines, protecting your remaining tooth structure.
Some people refer to crowns as “caps” since they set on top of their teeth. You could compare the shape of the inside of a crown to a thimble that’s used to protect your fingertips.
Reasons for Needing a Dental Crown
Dr. Mark will recommend a dental crown for your tooth if there is significant structural damage or risk of fractures. Some common examples include:
• Recent endodontic (root canal) treatment
• Replacing an older, large, leaky filling
• Large fracture or crack
• Severe tooth decay
• Aggressive enamel wear
When we place a crown over your tooth, it helps to protect the remaining structure from succumbing to regular use. Otherwise, the residual enamel may crack or break off, leaving little tooth behind.
By putting a crown over your tooth, you can preserve it rather than risk the chances of a dental emergency or unnecessary tooth extraction. Ultimately, a custom ceramic crown will extend the overall life expectancy of the tooth in question.
Dr. Mark also uses crowns to top off individual dental implants, for instances related to replacing missing teeth.
What is CEREC?
CEREC is short for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. It uses 3D CAD/CAM imaging, scanning, and digital technology to create custom crowns in a single dental appointment.
For CEREC to work, your tooth has a digital impression taken with a small, handheld wand (instead of a gooey mold.) This scan is then transferred into a digital program where the crown is virtually designed.
Once all of the information is processed, CEREC transfers that CAD/CAM data into an onsite milling machine. Here, Dr. Mark selects the specific color of porcelain for your dental crown, and the CEREC machine carves it out of a solid block of ceramic.
The CEREC system provides a high level of accuracy, efficiency, and eliminates unwanted lab mistakes all the while providing your new custom crown on the same day.
Same Day vs. Traditional Dental Crowns
A traditional dental crown appointment usually takes two appointments (if not more, in the instance of having to touch up or remake your restoration.) This means having to take extra time off of work and possibly even more numbing to keep you comfortable. Plus, there’s no need to wear a temporary crown for two weeks while your new permanent crown is being made at an off-site lab.
With CEREC, you can take advantage of:
• Less time off work
• Saving time, therefore saving money
• Greater efficiency
• Higher accuracy in crown design
• Immediate placement
• A solid ceramic restoration
• No visible metals
• Aesthetic, durable results
In the past, getting a CEREC crown used to mean paying more for your treatment. But today’s innovative technology and resources make our Forest Hills same-day crowns about the same price as a conventional cap, so that you can take advantage of fewer trips to the dentist’s office!
What to Expect During Treatment
If you’ve ever had a dental crown made, our Forest Hills CEREC treatment is similar but much more streamlined.
When you arrive, Dr. Mark will numb the tooth being prepped to ensure you’re completely comfortable. Once it’s fully anesthetized, he’ll remove any damaged structures, old fillings, and then gently reshape the remaining structure so that a cap can fit over it without feeling too big.
Next, we’ll use a small wand to capture a digital scan of the entire surface of your prepped tooth. Don’t worry, there’s no gooey or large tray to put inside your mouth! If you have a sensitive gag reflex, then CEREC crowns are great news.
Then we’ll select the shade of ceramic needed and input the digital information into our onsite milling equipment. While your same day crown is being carved, Dr. Mark can start on any other dental work that you need, or you can take a short break to relax and read your favorite book
Do I Really Need a Crown?
Putting off a dental crown can pose significant risk to the health of your tooth. For instance, if you have a large crack you may not notice any sensitivity but biting down on something hard could suddenly cause your tooth to split in two. Or an old leaky filling may one day come loose, taking the surrounding enamel with it.
Being preemptive about getting your new dental crown can help you avoid an unnecessary and painful emergency, especially one where the only other option might be to have your tooth extracted.
Crown Alternatives
Do you really need a dental crown? Some people ask if it’s possible to get a filling instead of a crown. Dr. Mark will carefully evaluate your unique tooth structure to determine the best-case scenario. Throughout our 20+ years of serving families in Forest Hills, we’ve seen just about everything. Dr. Mark will only suggest another alternative if he feels it’s the best and least-invasive option for your tooth.
A common dental crown alternative might include a CEREC inlay or onlay. These “lab made fillings” are essentially a three-quarter crown that fits over or inside of your tooth, when there’s still significantly healthy structure left to work with.
Stacey Pino-McCoo 02/19/2019
I LOVE Forest Hills Dental! I have had extreme anxiety when it comes to the dentist. Dr. Mark and the Forest Hills Dental team is the only Dentist to make me feel relaxed. They are extremely professional, use the latest dental technology and are always super friendly. I have been going to Forest Hills Dental for over 10 years and I am always happy when I leave there. Over the years I have had 2 dental emergencies of which they were able to get me in right away. I actually like going to the dentist now thanks to Dr. Mark! I highly recommend Forest Hills Dental!
Kyeseone P. 02/14/2019
My visit with Dr. Mark was excellent. The office is warm and friendly. Services are always punctual.