Enhance Your Smile & Oral Health With Dental Crowns
A damaged tooth is vulnerable to a variety of issues including pain and bacterial infection, which is why seeking treatment as soon as possible is crucial to preserving your oral health. At Gentle Family Dentistry, Dr. Garger offers dental crowns, both traditional and CEREC same-day restorations, as a versatile way to repair your teeth and complete your smile.
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are tooth-shaped, cap-like restorations that are made from a variety of materials including:
- Gold
- Nickel
- Aluminum
- Chromium
- Feldspathic porcelain
- Pressed porcelain
- Zirconia
Dental crowns are typically reserved for patients whose teeth have been weakened or cracked due to injury. This restoration can help prevent the expansion of any existing damage or the development of new complications with your smile. Crowns can also be utilized as a component to other dental restorations including dental implants and dental bridges, and procedures such as root canal therapy.
What Are CEREC Same-Day Dental Crowns?
For a more immediate treatment experience with faster restorations, Dr. Garger is proud to offer CEREC same-day dental crowns. CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic. Just like normal crowns, CEREC crowns are fitted over your teeth or a dental implant to restore your smile. However, CEREC crowns are made from a block of solid ceramic, and crafted in-office using CAD/CAM, or Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing software technology.
CAD/CAM technology allows Dr. Garger to design your CEREC dental crown by using digital impressions that he will take of your teeth. By combining the 3D model developed with the CAD/CAM technology, and an in-office milling system, Dr. Garger can craft your CEREC dental crowns the same day as your appointment, usually within less than two hours.
Benefits of Dental Crowns
Receiving treatment with a dental crown allows you to enjoy a vast array of oral health and aesthetic benefits, some of which include:
- Restorations that look and feel like your natural teeth
- Improvement in the appearance of your smile
- Durable and long-lasting restorations
- Repair a tooth’s form and function
- Stain-resistance
- Short treatment time
Benefits of treatment with CEREC same-day dental crowns are especially pronounced for some of the following additional reasons:
- On-site manufacturing
- Restorations ready in under two hours
- No temporary crowns needed
- CEREC same-day dental crowns can last 10 to 30 years with proper care
- X-rays penetrate CEREC crowns, allowing Dr. Garger to better examine that tooth
- CEREC same-day dental crowns don’t require follow-up visits
- They don’t cause sensitivity by reacting to temperatures
- They preserve more natural tooth structure
- They don’t contain potentially harmful materials, such as Bis-GMA
- Treatment with CEREC means drastically shorter recovery period
The Dental Crown Process
Step 1: Initial Consultation
Before you can receive your dental crowns, you’ll attend an initial consultation with Dr. Garger, where he’ll thoroughly examine your mouth, review your medical history, and discuss your smile goals with you. The information Dr. Garger gathers will allow him to determine your eligibility for dental crowns. He’ll also discuss your other treatment options with you, so you can make an informed decision.
Step 2: Designing Your Dental Crown
Once both you and Dr. Garger have decided to go forward with dental crown treatment, we’ll help you choose the right material for your crown based on your unique dental needs and preferences. Then, we’ll take 3D images and impressions of your existing teeth. These will be sent to an offsite laboratory and serve as the blueprints for your custom-made crown.
If you’ve opted for CEREC same-day dental crowns, then Dr. Garger will use the 3D images and impressions of your natural teeth with our in-office milling system to design your same-day dental crown.
Step 3: Preparation
To prepare your tooth for a dental crown, we’ll clean your mouth and the affected tooth. Next, we’ll apply a local anesthetic to the soft tissues around the structure so you won’t feel any pain. Dr. Garger will then remove a small portion of your tooth’s enamel to make room for the crown and ensure it fits comfortably.
Depending on your case, Dr. Garger may have you wear a temporary crown while your permanent crown is being crafted to protect your tooth in the meantime. Dr. Garger can make any necessary changes to the design of your permanent crown based on the feedback you give him about your temporary restoration. If you opted for same-day dental crowns, no temporary crowns will be necessary and you’ll receive your cap immediately.
Step 4: Installing Your Permanent Crown
When your permanent crown is ready to be installed, Dr. Garger will show it to you first to make sure it’s to your liking. Then, we’ll remove any temporary crowns, clean your mouth, and apply the permanent crown to the proper tooth. Once your crown is installed, you’ll be free to leave our Bakersfield office and enjoy your new smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dental team at Gentle Family Dentistry does everything with your comfort and safety in mind. We’ll be certain to use an anesthetic and make sure it’s working before Dr. Garger begins the procedure. That way, you can have a pleasant, pain-free dental experience that’ll end with you having a newly restored smile.
Our Bakersfield office has the highest standards and quality control that must be met before we are willing to cement a crown on the teeth of our patients. However, the overall longevity of your crown will depend on multiple factors such as the material used, your post-procedure habits, and keeping up with your regular dental exams.
For example, same-day CEREC dental crowns are designed to last ten to 15 years, but they can last up to 30 years with proper oral hygiene and regular dental exams with Dr. Garger. Traditional gold dental crowns may last 20 to 40 years with the same level of care. Dr. Garger will discuss materials and maintenance with you during your initial consultation and give you aftercare instructions to help you maintain your restoration and oral health.
The cost of your dental crown will depend on a number of factors such as the materials used, the amount of dental crowns placed, and your insurance coverage. We encourage you to call your dental insurance provider before your procedure to get a better understanding of your coverage. Since we want all of our patients to enjoy the benefits of quality dental care, we offer flexible financing options and also accept third-party financing through CareCredit.
If your dental crown falls out, do not attempt to reattach it yourself. You may end up damaging it and/or your tooth. Instead, collect the pieces, place them in a clear plastic bag or container, and contact Gentle Family Dentistry by dialing 661-664-9900 to schedule an appointment. Once you arrive at our Bakersfield office, Dr. Garger will either repair and reattach the dental crown, or recommend options for replacement.
Choose Dental Crowns For a Stronger, More Beautiful Smile
Your dental crown can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials to suit your unique dental health needs. Gentle Family Dentistry offers traditional crowns and same-day dental crowns to patients from our home location of Bakersfield and surrounding areas such as Gosford, Alameda, and Lakeview, CA.
To learn more about how dental crowns can benefit your smile, contact our Bakersfield office at 661-664-9900. You can also request an appointment online by filling out our convenient form below so that one of our friendly staff will get back to you shortly. Dr. Garger and his team look forward to the chance to change your smile for the better with these versatile restorations.