Dental Crowns Procedure By Danny O'Keefe D.D.S. on September 14, 2011

Whether it happens due to poor dental hygiene or because of injury or accidents, damage to the teeth is a common dental problem that many people face. Thankfully, when you visit the Jackson, MS area cosmetic dentistry practice of Dr. Danny O’Keefe, he will have many different options for the improvement of your smile’s appearance as well as your overall dental health. One such option to consider is dental crowns.

What are dental crowns?

It’s perhaps easiest to think of dental crowns as aesthetically pleasing caps that are placed on top of a tooth that is severely decayed or damaged. This capping of the tooth serves to functions. The dental crown is custom matched to the color and contours of your existing teeth. The dental crown will also restore the overall bite strength and integrity of your smile as well, again adhering to our philosophy of improved aesthetics and enhanced functionality at our Flowood cosmetic dentistry practice.

Who is a good candidate for dental crowns?

The best candidates for dental crowns are patients who have tooth damage that is too severe for other dental restorations but does not necessitate the removal of the tooth. If the tooth is decayed but not so severely, the other options to consider are inlays or onlays. For purely aesthetic issues related to tooth damage, there is Jackson, MS porcelain veneers. We can discuss which option is best for you during a consultation at our practice.

The Old Dental Crowns Procedure

Advances in dental care technology have revolutionized the dental crowns procedure. The old procedure took a few weeks to complete. It began with the tooth being prepared for the dental crown. This involves the removal of damaged tooth material, leaving only healthy structure behind. Once this is completed, an impression of the prepared tooth is taken. A temporary dental crown is placed.

This impression of the tooth is sent to a dental lab where the dental crown will be fashioned. Once this is done, the patient will return to the practice for a second visit, during which time the dentist will remove the temporary crown and place the permanent dental crown.

Our State-of-the-Art Dental Crowns Procedure

Instead of needing two visits spaced weeks apart, the use of CEREC® 3D dental restoration technology has allowed us to complete the entire dental crowns procedure in just one visit. No dental labs or waiting required—the CEREC® 3D machine does it all. Using this technology, a digital impression is taken of the tooth. This information is then sent into the CEREC® machine, which helps design the dental crown. The CEREC® milling unit will then fashion the dental crown on site from an extremely sturdy dental ceramic.

Once this custom milling is completed, Dr. O’Keefe will then place the dental crown and adhere it so it is secure. This state-of-the-art approach to placing dental crowns means more convenience to patients and less time in the dental chair.

Learn More About Dental Restorations

If you would like to learn more about dental crowns as well as your many other options for both aesthetic smile enhancement and improved dental health, contact our Flowood cosmetic dentistry practice today. We look forward to seeing you soon.