Mayda Ferguson, DDSCEREC Same-Day Dental Restorations – Metairie, LA
One-Visit Smile Repair
As part of our dedication to providing out patients with the widest range of dentistry solutions, we often incorporate advanced dental technologies into our dental office. CEREC is one of the most innovative technologies we utilize. This system allows us to put the entire dental restoration process into the hands of the dentist and team at Second Line Family Dentistry. That means you’ll only need one dental appointment to fully restore your smile, and your flawless restoration will be crafted by the dentist and dental team you trust, ensuring complete success. If you want to learn more about CEREC same-day dental restorations in Metairie, call our team to schedule an appointment at Second Line Family Dentistry today.
What is CEREC?
Specifically, CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. More simply, CEREC is a state-of-the-art restorative dentistry technology that allows us to design, craft, and place dental restorations, like crowns and bridges, in just one appointment rather than needing you to take the time to visit us two or more times. Because we handle every aspect of the treatment plan, we can also ensure a more precise design and flawless final result.
How Does CEREC Work?
CEREC dental restorations are designed, crafted, and placed just like their traditional counterparts, but your Metairie dentist and team will perform every step of this process right here in the dental office during just one appointment. We begin by preparing your tooth, which includes removing damaged tissue as well as a small amount of structure from all sides of the tooth to allow the restoration to fit over the top of your tooth without changing the shape of your smile. Then, we capture digital impressions of the prepared smile that are instantly transferred to our chairside design unit where we create a plan for your flawless restoration. Once our design is complete, we can immediately send the design to the in-office milling unit where a block of high quality dental ceramic is molded into your crown or other restorations. Once the restoration is complete, we check the fit, make adjustments, and fuse it in place.
Am I a Candidate for CEREC?
Any patient who could benefit from a traditional dental crown, bridge, porcelain veneers, or other high quality ceramic dental restoration or cosmetic product may be a good candidate for treatment using our innovative CEREC system. Some patients who would most benefit from CEREC treatment include:
- Those who need to quickly repair smiles for an upcoming event or travel
- Those who don’t have time to fit two or more dental appointments into their schedules
- Those who have dental phobias or anxiety that make visiting the dentist difficult
- Those who have sensitive teeth, gums, and gag reflex and want to avoid placing and removing a temporary restoration in addition to the final product
Is CEREC Dental Restoration More Expensive?
In most cases, the costs of CEREC dental restorations are comparable to the pricing of traditional restorations. In the early days of CEREC and other in-office restoration systems, some dental insurers did not cover these treatments. This was mainly due to the refusal of insurance providers to cover tooth-colored ceramic materials rather than the cheaper metal options. Today, most insurers provide equal coverage for dental restorations no matter what materials they’re crafted from or where they’re crafted. During your treatment planning appointment, we can discuss any additional fees associated with CEREC, but for the most part, pricing for these treatments are only nominally higher than the dental lab crafted counterparts.
CEREC Same-Day Dental Crown FAQs
Does it hurt to get a dental crown?
As your dental team, one of our goals is to make the process of restoring your healthy, beautiful smile as painless as possible. Since CEREC dental crowns allow us to restore the look, health, and appearance of your tooth the same day, your mouth will be numb throughout the entire process. This isn’t usually the case with traditional bridges because the restorative care and the placement of the crown are completed in two separate visits.
Tip: If you feel any sensitivity once you begin to regain sensation in your mouth, don’t worry – it’s only temporary. Plus, there are a few steps you can take to alleviate it even sooner, like drinking room-temperature water and taking OTC pain medication as directed.
Will I have dietary restrictions with a same-day crown?
One of the many perks of same-day dental crowns is that you won’t have to deal with the rules and restrictions that come with temporary restorations, like eating only extremely soft foods. With that said, like your natural teeth, it can break with enough force. So, it’s best to steer clear of hard pretzels, raw almonds, and other crunchy snacks.
Do dental crowns get cavities?
No, dental crowns do not get cavities. However, the underlying teeth can still decay. Not only that, but letting your oral hygiene regimen fall to the back burner can cause other serious dental problems to develop, like gum disease. That’s why it’s so important to prioritize healthy habits, like brushing your teeth each morning and evening, rinsing with mouthwash for 30-60 seconds each day, and scheduling a dental cleaning every six months.
Are dental crowns permanent?
Unfortunately, dental crowns are not permanent. Typically, they last between 5 and 15 years. The key to prolonging the lifespan of yours is committing to a solid oral hygiene regimen at home, eating healthy, well-balanced meals, and prioritizing your biannual dental checkups at our Metairie office. Of course, it’s also important to avoid doing anything that could cause your restoration to break, like chewing on ice cubes.
Do dental crowns feel natural?
They do! We can say this confidently for a few reasons, starting with the fact that they are crafted from high-quality materials that don’t irritate the soft tissue in your mouth. The size and shape of yours will also be customized to ensure that it doesn’t feel bulky or unnatural in any way. All that to say, you don’t have to worry – your restoration will look and feel extremely lifelike.
