Dental Crowns, Teeth Crowns

Porcelain Crowns - CEREC Crowns

Dental crowns are designed to fit over your natural teeth to restore the strength and appearance of the teeth. Once cemented or bonded into place, dental crowns completely cover, or cap the natural tooth.

At Advanced Smile Designs, Aptos Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Forsberg most frequently uses CEREC technology, LAVA (zirconium) and Empress Crowns for porcelain (all tooth colored) full crown restorations.

Teeth crowns can provide an attractive and functional new surface for a tooth seriously damaged as a result of:

• Multiple failed fillings
• Decay that is too severe or poorly located for fillings
• Endodontic treatment
• Cusp fracture

Once placed, the dental crown becomes the new surface of your tooth. It allows you to chew normally and smile without self-consciousness. It also extends the life of your tooth.

CEREC

CEREC by Sirona is an advanced computer system that is designed to create dental restorations. With this technology, Dr. Forsberg is able to create porcelain restorations such as crowns and porcelain fillings easily and quickly with the same precision used in dental labs.

CEREC creates restorations using a small block of ceramic material that is colored to precisely match the natural color of your tooth enamel. The milling portion of the CEREC computer system manufactures the materials by cutting the block to size according to specifications that are fed into the computer system.

CEREC technology allows Dr. Forsberg to provide restorations often on the same day as your teeth are prepared, so you often do not need a temporary crown or onlay.

The steps involved in a standard CEREC procedure include:

• Examining your teeth
• Preparing your teeth and removing any decay that is present
• Creating optical impressions of your prepared teeth
• Creation of your dental restoration while you wait

The CEREC camera photographs your prepared tooth, then creates a 3D model of the tooth. This image is then used to design your restoration using the computer's software program. After the design is created, the milling unit manufactures the restoration. The entire design and milling process can be completed in less than 30 minutes.

After the milling process, Dr. Forsberg bonds your restoration into place and your procedure is complete. If further customization or additional strengthening is needed, Dr. Forsberg will color and glaze your CEREC crown in his porcelain oven. This customization and strengthening usually requires two steps but only a few days between visits.

LAVA Crowns

LAVA crowns by 3M ESPE offer a strong restoration with a secure and comfortable fit and provide that natural translucency that has become standard in ceramic crowns. The ideal combination of aesthetics and precise fit is produced through the use of precisely matched materials, technology and software. Since their introduction LAVA crowns have lived up to the promise of their advanced materials with a long lifespan and high functionality and appearance.

Only LAVA zirconia created by 3M ESPE is uniquely designed to offer long-term and consistent high performance for all restoration applications. Advantages of LAVA crowns include:

• Metal-free fit
• Precision fit
• Reduced wear on opposing teeth
• Natural translucency
• Enhanced strength
• Enhanced aesthetics
• Can be used on any teeth regardless of their location in the mouth

To learn more about CEREC technology and LAVA restorations, please contact cosmetic dentist, Terry W. Forsberg, DDS, at Advanced Smile Designs in Santa Cruz County, California to schedule a porcelain crown consultation. Serving the areas of Watsonville, Santa Cruz, Capitola, and Aptos.