What is a crown?
A crown (often called a “cap”) is a covering that can be placed over a damaged tooth to restore the tooth’s health and appearance. Crowns can be made to protect the structure of a tooth that is cracked or broken. They also can be used to change the shape of a tooth, to correct a bite or cosmetic problem, or to replace existing broken or poor fitting crowns.
Why is it important to restore my tooth with a crown?
If your damaged tooth is not restored with a crown, you will need to have the tooth pulled. When a tooth is removed and you are left with an open space, many problems can occur, unless you replace the missing tooth. The space left by a missing tooth may cause some teeth to tilt forward or opposing teeth to move down – which is called over-eruption. A missing tooth can create spaces between teeth, changing your bite and smile. When your teeth start shifting and drifting due to open spaces, it can lead to changes in your chewing muscles, bones and joints, making chewing difficult or painful. The tilting of teeth also creates areas between the teeth where food debris and bacteria collect. These areas are especially difficult to clean so tooth decay and gum disease often develop in these areas.
Missing teeth can be replaced with a bridge or implants, but these procedures are more costly than simply restoring the tooth with a crown.
What is a CEREC crown?
In dentistry today, there are two types of crowns – those made to a dentist’s specifications by a laboratory and those that the dentist designs chairside using a CEREC machine. In our Cincinnati office, we almost exclusively use a CEREC machine to make crowns for patients.
CEREC uses CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) technology to take a 3-D picture of a tooth and, using the picture as an impression, mill a new tooth-colored crown to cover the damaged tooth.
The advantages of a CEREC crown – VS – a laboratory crow
At our Cincinnati dental office we have found that patients really appreciate the convenience of a CEREC crown versus laboratory crowns. With a lab crown, a patient is required to make two visits to the dental office – one visit for shaping the tooth and taking an impression to send to the lab, and a second visit to place the lab-made crown onto the damaged tooth. A CEREC crown is made entirely in one hour-and-a-half visit. This means our patients only have to find time in their busy schedules for one short appointment and only need to be numbed once, as well!
What to expect during your CEREC crown procedure
First, Dr. Omeltschenko will numb you and then prepare the damaged tooth. Next, he paints a thin layer of reflective powder directly on the tooth’s surface. Using a special camera, he then takes a picture of the tooth, which serves as a pin sharp optical impression.
Next, a computer reads the optical impression and, using Computer Aided Design, Dr. Omeltschenko designs a restoration based on these specifications. The design is done chairside on a color monitor and you can watch him design the new restoration right in front of your eyes.
Once he has designed the restoration, the specifications for the restoration are electronically sent to a milling chamber where the restoration is made. Using Computer Aided Manufacturing, a high-speed diamond bur and a disk simultaneously mill a precise restoration out of ceramic that closely matches your tooth color. This process is called “milling” and takes approximately ten minutes. Finally, Dr. Omeltschenko bonds the newly milled restoration to the tooth using an adhesive. Once bonded, the crown is checked for proper bite, adjusted until comfortable, and finally, polished.
What to expect after the treatment
Recovery is often immediate and there are no restrictions on your new restoration – simply treat it as you would any other tooth. Some patients experience soreness after the procedure is completed, often associated with what we call a “high bite.” A high bite means that the restoration is seated up higher than your natural tooth and will cause moderate to severe pain if not corrected. A high bite can be adjusted very simply by Dr. Omeltschenko in a matter of minutes. If you experience soreness or pain after your restoration is completed, call the office and schedule a time to come in for an adjustment.
As with any dental treatment, the success and longevity of the work depends on how well you maintain it. It is important that you follow any home care instructions, including oral hygiene and dietary instructions, come in for routine exams and cleanings, take prescribed medications and report to the office any changes in your health status.
How much does a crown cost?
While dentist’s fees vary, in Cincinnati the average price range for a crown, whether it is a CEREC crown or a lab crown, is $850 – $1,200.