Get Your Dental Crown in a Single Appointment with CEREC

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Dr. Micah Westmorland or Dr. Christel Westmorland may recommend placing a dental crown if you have a cracked, chipped, diseased, or badly decayed tooth. Crowns provide stability for weak teeth and help to avoid extraction.

Getting a dental crown used to require multiple appointments and wearing a temporary crown for several weeks. Thanks to CEREC technology, we can create your new dental crown onsite and place it on the same day. We outlineCEREC in Newport, TN, below.

What is CEREC?

CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. CEREC equipment includes a computer screen with an image of your tooth and a milling machine to create a dental crown that fits over it.

Dr. Micah Westmorland and Dr. Christel Westmorland use three-dimensional computer-aided design to create a crown according to the shape and dimensions of your tooth and jaw. Once the crown is ready, your dentist shapes your tooth to ensure that the crown fits just right. The next step is to place adhesive on the top and sides of your tooth and then place the crown on top of it. You should avoid chewing with that tooth for a few hours until the dental cement dries completely.

CEREC Benefits

Crowns made from CEREC equipment tend to blend in better with your other teeth because they do not have a metal core. We use extremely durable materials when creating dental crowns for patients, so you can expect your new restoration to last for several years or even a decade or more. You should continue brushing and flossing like usual and avoid placing unnecessary stress on your treated tooth.

We are happy to explain the entire process ofCEREC in Newport TN when you come in for your consultation.

When Should I Get a Veneer Instead of a Crown?

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Both a veneer and a crown in Newport, TN will change the appearance and improve the functionality of your tooth. They can restore a tooth that has been damaged, giving you back a complete smile and making it easier to talk and chew. However, the two are different dental procedures, and they come with their own sets of recommendations. We’ll look at what they are and when they should be implemented.

The Similarities

If your tooth is chipped, cracked, or broken, a dentist may consider either a veneer or a crown to fix it. Both materials are made to match the color of your teeth, so they blend into your mouth. You’ll need to brush both a veneer and a crown at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to remove food particles and to mitigate the odds of dental decay to the tooth below the veneer or crown.

The Differences

A veneer is a thin covering for a tooth, and it binds to the front of the tooth. Crowns are thicker and they last longer than veneers. They can endure for 50 years or more while veneers are designed to be replaced in as few as 10 years (though some will last closer to 30 years). In general, veneers are used for more cosmetic procedures while crowns are often used to restore a tooth after it’s had a root canal or other major procedure.

Find a Dentist in Newport, TN

If you’re trying to choose between these two procedures, chances are one is better for you. If you’re looking for a dentist in Newport, TN that can give you some advice, Westmoreland Cosmetic & Family Dentistry invites you to contact our friendly staff today to schedule an appointment.

Get Your New Dental Crown in a Single Appointment  

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When a tooth is too decayed or damaged to survive on its own, Dr. Micah Westmorland of Westmorland Cosmetic & Family Dentistry recommends placing a dental crown to replace it. Before he invested in CEREC equipment, the process of receiving a crown for a decayed or damaged tooth could take weeks. You had to go in for the fitting and placement of a temporary crown while you waited a few weeks for our laboratory to manufacture your custom-made crown. With CEREC, you complete all steps in a single appointment.

What is CEREC?

CEREC, which stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, is a milling machine that creates the replacement tooth on the spot after receiving instructions that Dr. Westmoreland entered into a computer. 

Here are the five steps involved in receiving a new dental crown via CEREC:

  1. Your dentist prepares your tooth to receive the crown by sanding and polishing it.
  2. He uses an intraoral camera to take several three-dimensional images of the tooth in question and the neighboring teeth. You do not have to sit with messy chemicals in your mouth to create an impression of your teeth.
  3. Dr. Westmorland then creates your new crown with the computer aided design (CAD) component of CEREC. The CAD helps him design the crown with such things as fissures, pits, indentations, and ridges in mind.
  4. The milling machine carves an exact replica of the dental crown design that your dentist programmed into the equipment.
  5. Your dentist glues the crown to your tooth once it has cooled down from the milling machine.

Contact Your Newport, TN Dentist

Besides the convenience of receiving a new dental crown in just one appointment, CEREC can save you a considerable amount of money as well. Your new restoration should last up to 15 years with proper care. Please contact our office to schedule a crown fitting or to learn more about CEREC in Newport, TN today.