Tag Archives: problems with crowns

CEREC Crowns Doesn’t Fit

I thought CEREC crowns were supposed to be more accurate because they are milled by a computer. I had a four-year-old crown break so I needed to get another one. I was in a hurry and my dentist just got the CEREC machine that is supposed to create your crown in one appointment. When I got the crown it was way too bulky. I came in again and she could see it was too big in spots. While she did grind it down in some of those spots, I am biting my tongue now every time I eat. Is this technology not what she painted it to be or is something else going on?

Mark

Dear Mark,

porcelain block for CEREC crowns

I think the problem here is more your dentist than the CEREC technology. First, she provided you with a dental crown that broke after just four years. They shouldn’t break, especially when they’re that “young”. That by itself tells me she struggles with some basic dental skills.

Now she has this great new technology. Normally, when you are preparing a crown with the CEREC machine, it is basing it off of a tooth that is already there and has been scanned into the program. Because your tooth already had a dental crown and now that was broken and gone, there wasn’t a previous tooth for her to base the crown on.

That being said, the software has the ability for the dentist to design a crown for a tooth that is no longer there. It’s fairly easy to shape the tooth using the software. The problem is she doesn’t know how to do that yet.

You have a couple of options here. The crown needs to be replaced. It also needs to fit so perfectly you don’t even know it is there. Nor, should you bite your tongue because of its fit. You can either have her provide you a traditional crown that is made in a laboratory, but again, I’m concerned that the last one only lasted four years.

Alternatively, you could just ask for a refund and go somewhere else to get your crown done. You may want to do this to make sure you get the right crown.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper. We’re open Saturdays.

Crowns without a temporary

I needed to get a dental crown. My temporary crown has fallen off. Of course, my know it all sister told me if I’d have gotten a cerec crown I wouldn’t have needed a temporary to begin with.  I’m sure she’d correct (she always seems to be), but can you tell me what this cerec thing is?

Nate- Boston

Nate,

I have a sister like that. As much as I hate to tell you this, she is right. CEREC crowns are milled at your appointment by a computer. They’re generally ready in about twenty minutes.

Because they’re done by computer, they generally will fit better as well.  You’ll have to find a dentist who uses CEREC technology.

Hopefully, your current dentist took care of your temporary crown.  You don’t want to leave that off because it can throw off your bite and your permanent crown won’t fit.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.