The title of this article came from something one of my patients said to me. From what I collected, the conversation went something like this:
Patient: “Yeah, my dentist told me I need a crown. It’s my first one. He said the tooth would be good as new when I left the office.”
Co-worker:”Ohhhh no, you’ll be wearing a temporary when you leave. Trust me I’ve had many. They’re awful. They don’t fit right, they’re rough, and half the time it comes off before your next appointment.”
Patient: “There are two appointments?!”
Co-worker: “Yep, you have to take off work twice, go in twice, get numb twice. Good luck!”
Patient: “I’m pretty sure he told me it would only be one visit.”
Co-worker: “Dental crown in one visit? That’s impossible!”
Being submerged in dentistry every day, I occasionally forget that most people do not really care about, or much less, keep up on, dental technology. This article is meant to explain one of the most revolutionary technologies in dentistry today, CAD-CAM restorations. CAD-CAM stands for “Computer Aided Design-Computer Aided Manufacture” and is used to make and design almost any product these days.
How is this type of crown different from the one’s I used to get? In the past, many crowns were made with metal, either full gold or a metal core with a porcelain shell. A revolutionary material called lithium disilicate allows us to make a crown entirely out of porcelain. Studies show that if done properly, it’s actually less prone to breaking than the older white crowns because its one solid material rather than a thin layer of porcelain placed on top of metal.Is it possible to have a crown done in one day? Yes, in fact we do it every day at Amberly Dental.
Do they last? Studies show that these crowns will last every bit as long, if not longer than, the previous types of crowns. I personally see a better fit with this type of crown then I did from the ones I ordered from a lab. Also, it’s important to note that the dentist can evaluate everything immediately. This means that improvements to the design of the crown can be done and assessed chairside. This immediate feedback has proven invaluable to creating the best crown possible.
Overall, I admit that I’m a bit of a “nerd” when it comes to this stuff but I absolutely love it. I’m truly excited for this and other technologies that will change the way we do dentistry forever. In the end, who doesn’t want to spend LESS time in the dental office?