Dental crowns are easily one of the most common and well-known of all types of dental restoration. Although very simple in their design, traditionally it requires at least two visits to your dentist to receive a natural and comfortable crown that sits over the top of your affected tooth, restoring its shape, size, and function. When you need a restoration in a hurry, having to wait can be incredibly frustrating. Fortunately, CAD/CAM technology has made it possible for patients to receive high quality, accurate and permanent dental restorations the very same day.

How does CAD/CAM technology work?

CAD/CAM stands for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. The process is controlled by revolutionary technology that enables a product, in this case, a dental crown, to be designed and created in a very short space of time without any compromise on the materials used or the accuracy of the final product. CAD/CAM technology can be used to create a multitude of dental restorations and cosmetic treatments including dental crowns, bridges, veneers, dentures and dental implants.

The process begins with preparing the affected tooth/teeth than using an intraoral wand to take images of your mouth and teeth. These are converted into a selection of 3D digital images which have unrivaled accuracy compared to impressions and other more conventional techniques to determine the dimensions needed to create the restoration. The 3D images of your teeth are then used to design your restoration, which will then be sent digitally to the on-site laboratory for the restoration to be milled from a single block of material. Once the restoration has been created, it can be customized with the relevant stains and glazes to create a natural appearance. Once it has been fired and finished, it will be ready to be placed. While this may sound like it takes some time, most CAD/CAM created restorations can be completed in under two hours from start to finish.

Benefits of CAD/CAM technology

There are a variety of different benefits to dental restorations provided using CAD/CAM technology. These include the following:

• Restorations milled from stronger materials than before, meaning that with the proper care and attention, they last for longer.

• Same-Day restorations are possible, rather than needing to attend two or more appointments to receive the same treatment. This applies to Same-Day crowns as well as other types of restoration.

• No need for unpleasant molds and impressions.

• Superior accuracy in the creation and execution of dental restoration.

• No need for a temporary dental crown, which isn’t as secure or natural in appearance as the final, permanent restoration.

• No need for multiple injections.

• Less time out of your work or life schedule.

• Lower risk of complications.

• Replace an existing restoration in just one day.

• Restorations that look as natural as your real teeth.

If you have an existing crown that requires replacement, or if you suspect that you may need a crown in the near future, you could have your restoration made using CAD/CAM technology. This will afford you all of the benefits listed above and leave you with a fully restored, attractive smile that will last you for years to come.

To find out more about CAD/CAM technology and how it has revolutionized dental crowns, or to schedule your appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experienced team at our dental practice in Paducah, KY today.
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