Having damaged teeth is difficult, but sometimes going to the dentist can be even more difficult. Especially when they have to make messy impressions, the turnaround time is weeks and leaves you vulnerable in the meantime. Luckily enough at Drew Family Dentistry, our procedures for crowns require no messy impressions and allow you to be in and out in one visit thanks to the Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic (CEREC).

What is CEREC?

CEREC is a method of dental restoration that can be performed in-house at the clinic. It is used to repair damage to your teeth from decay or injury. Your restorations are designed using a CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing). This method allows it to make impressions and then that information goes to another unit where it fabricates ceramic restoration of the teeth.

Advantages of CEREC

The CEREC system has shown positive impacts that are easier, faster, and more affordable than other methods. The biggest advantage of CEREC is that the restoration process can be completed in one visit. Scheduling multiple visits can be a pain, so being able to get it all done in one go is great! Having a solution that can do a restoration in a single appointment also takes away the stress of having to find temporary solutions, which could later cause other problems like pain, tenderness, and swelling. Another advantage is that the CAD/CAM systems impressions are typically very accurate and allow dental professionals to have more control in the process due to the precision of the CAD/CAM system.

How Long Do CEREC Crowns Last?

The lifespan of CEREC crowns, either for your natural teeth or dental implant, depends on a variety of factors such as the patient’s oral hygiene, however, a long-term study showed that more than 85% of CEREC implants last 10 years or more. With good care, CEREC crowns can last up to 20 years. To extend the lifetime of your implants you should take extra precautions like wearing a custom night guard if you grind your teeth or wearing a mouth guard if you are participating in sports.

If you have damaged teeth or other problems that are bothering you, you should contact your dentist. If your situation fits, they may suggest using the CEREC system.

If you have any questions about your damaged teeth, please call our office at (541)610-3270.

Invisalign® revolutionized the way people look at orthodontic treatment. The clear aligner system from Invisalign® made it possible for people to discreetly improve their smiles. While Invisalign® allows people to love the appearance of their smile and avoids many of the discomforts of braces throughout the process, there should be more to consider when choosing orthodontic treatment. You should consider which treatment option will best treat your individual situation. While you should speak with Dr. Drew or Dr. Scott before making your final decision, we have included issues that Invisalign® can effectively treat.

Crooked Teeth

Invisalign® is very effective at treating crooked teeth. Clear aligners offer a great solution for people to align their teeth and love their smiles.

Overbite & Underbite

Invisalign® can be used to treat both an overbite and an underbite. An overbite is when the top front teeth extend beyond the bottom of your bottom front teeth. An underbite is when the lower jaw rests in front of the top jaw when the mouth is closed. Invisalign® can be used to move either the top or bottom teeth into the right place so that they align properly with the mouth closed.

Crossbite

A crossbite occurs when teeth don’t line up properly with the mouth closed. This could be the top teeth in the back of your mouth resting inside your bottom teeth or could be one or more of your top front teeth resting behind your bottom front teeth. Invisalign® can move teeth into the proper positions and treat a crossbite.

Gaps in Teeth & Crowded Teeth

These opposite issues can both be treated by Invisalign®. Gaps in teeth occur when there are large spaces between teeth. Crowded teeth happen when there is not enough room in the jaw for all of the teeth, often causing them to overlap or twist. Crowded teeth can make it easy for food to get stuck or plaque to build up, and should be addressed to keep optimal oral health.

Limitations of Invisalign®

While Invisalign® is an excellent option for many orthodontic issues, it does have its limitations. There are times when it may be best to go with braces. For severe orthodontic issues and intrusion and extrusion, braces often offer the force that is needed. It’s also important to note that Invisalign® continues to get better and better. We can now treat more complex orthodontic situations than we could even a few years ago. If you think Invisalign® is the right treatment option for you, contact our Bend office at (541) 610-3270.