Medfield, MA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/23/2015 -- Anyone who has ever had to get a crown remembers the general procedure they had to undergo to get it placed.
First, the tooth had to be numbed, then drilled down to a stub. Teeth impressions had to be taken by having the patient put a tray of "goop" into their mouth and waiting for it to harden. When the tray was taken out, it often felt like the teeth were being pulled out too. Finally, the patient would get a temporary crown, which looked like a tin foil tooth and tasted like aluminum.
"When the permanent crown is ready, which might take a couple of weeks, the patient would have to come in for a second appointment to get it placed," adds Dr. Jennifer Lee of West Mill Smiles.
Fortunately, that is no longer the case for patients at West Mill Smiles, with the introduction of CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics). This system provides patients with the latest technology in same-day crowns, fillings and dental restorations. Porcelain crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers can be made or repaired in just one visit.
CEREC uses CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/manufacturing technology), which incorporates a camera, computer, and milling unit in one piece of technology.
"To obtain an accurate picture of the damaged tooth, a digital impression is taken using a special camera. This impression is then transferred to and displayed on a full-spectrum color computer, where I put into motion the CAD technology to design the restoration," explains Dr. Lee. From there, CAM technology takes over the procedure, automatically creating the crown in just 10 to 20 minutes. A high quality ceramic material is used to match the natural color of teeth. In the final stage, Dr. Lee bonds the new crown to the surface of the old tooth. The entire procedure takes approximately two hours from start to finish, allowing damaged teeth to be restored cost-effectively in just one visit.
About Dr. Lee
Dr. Lee received a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, cum laude, from the University of Washington in Seattle. She then earned a Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Dental Medicine.
In addition, Dr. Lee has received certifications in CEREC CAD-CAM 3D, the Odyssey diode laser, Invisalign and the Dawson Academy. She is an active member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry, the Massachusetts Dental Society, and the American Dental Association.
To make an appointment for a same-day porcelain crown, call (508) 359-8004.