Your guide to dental crowns in Mission Viejo

Drs. Alex and Nina Basti provide the most effective yet conservative dental treatment possible. In many instances where a tooth has decayed or sustained damage, a filling is appropriate. But when the tooth has extensive decay or is broken, a dental crown may be the most viable form of treatment. We use crowns to correct a range of dental issues:

• Root canal tooth
• Fractured tooth
• Protect a tooth that is weakened by breakage, decay, or a very large filling
• Cover a dental implant
• Disguise a misshapen or discolored tooth for smile makeover

A dental crown is a cap that completely encases the tooth. Before prepping a tooth for a crown, local anesthetic is applied to numb the affected area. All decay or damage is then removed, and the tooth is reduced to allow the crown to fit. Once the tooth is prepped, an impression is taken and a mold sent to the lab where a customized crown is fabricated. You are then fitted with a temporary crown for normal appearance and function until your permanent one may be placed. This process takes approximately two weeks.

Today, thanks to advances in dental technology, patients can receive permanent crowns in just one appointment. Drs. Basti use CEREC to eliminate the lab step in crown restorations. This means a higher degree of convenience for you, because the entire procedure is completed in one simple visit. The result of CEREC technology is also a more natural-looking crown. CEREC crowns are typically fabricated using ceramic or porcelain. This material provides a long-lasting restoration without the dark line at the gum that is present with traditional metal-core crowns. Strong and aesthetic, CEREC crowns are ideal for molars as well as teeth which are fully visible when you smile.

What are the benefits of CEREC?

There are several advantages to having treatment with CEREC over conventional, laboratory-made restorations:

• Everything is carried out in a single visit - you only need to visit the dentist once - take one day away from your work or life to have the procedure - instead of the usual two or three visits.
• Only one set of local anaesthetic injections - since the entire procedure can be carried out within the hour, you only need to have one lot of injections.
• Your dentist is in complete control of the final result - since the crown or veneer is designed and fabricated from start to finish by your dentist, he/she has total control over how it will look and fit, whereas a crown made in a laboratory is under the control of the technician who hasn't even seen the patient.
• No temporary restorations - if you have lab-made veneers, you would require temporary veneers during the wait for your new teeth. These have been known to fall off and cause problems, which is a step that is omitted with CEREC restorations.

While the crown will not decay as a natural tooth could, your gum health is still top priority. It is important to maintain healthy brushing and flossing habits and to keep regular check-ups with your dentist.