How To Care for Your CEREC® Crown

CEREC crowns are ceramic crowns that are made in the dentist’s office using computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) technology. This allows a patient to get fitted for a crown on the same day, instead of waiting for more than a week to have the crown made in a dental laboratory.

The dentist uses the CAD/CAM technology to take images of the teeth. Then they use the images to create a digital model of the teeth to fit the crown. The crown is made from a block of ceramic-based on the CAD/CAM model, then shaded to match the natural teeth before it is bonded on the tooth.

How to take care of your CEREC crown

Even though CEREC crowns are made from ceramic, they can last a very long time if they are properly taken care of. To make sure the crown lasts as long as possible, there are a few things that need to be done, including:

Keep the margins clean

When the CEREC crown is fitted on a tooth, it covers the entire tooth up to the gum line. However, it does not extend too far under the gums because it can damage the patient’s gum tissue if it does. Since there is a very small margin that is exposed around the crown, there tends to be a plaque buildup on the margins.

People who have been fitted with CEREC crowns should thoroughly clean the surfaces every day. However, they should be careful when they clean the surfaces so that the plaque does not weaken the enamel or cause new areas of active decay.

Floss around the crown

Flossing the crown is just as important as brushing it because it gets rid of the food particles that get stuck between the teeth. When it comes to flossing the teeth, dentists recommend flossing around the CEREC crown to prevent it from getting loose. Patients should wrap the floss snuggly around the crown and slide it up and down against the side, extending just below the gum lines. This should be repeated several times before moving to the adjacent tooth.

Wear a mouthguard

Grinding of the teeth, especially when sleeping at night, can wear down the surface of the teeth and also damage it. People who have CEREC crowns fitted over their teeth can damage the crown if they grind their teeth while they are asleep. The CEREC crown can be protected by wearing a mouthguard when going to sleep.

Mouthguards can be bought at pharmacies and sporting goods stores. Dentists also make customized mouthguards for their patients, providing them with the best fit.

Make regular visits to the dentist

The best way to make sure the CEREC crown lasts for a long time is to make at least two trips to the dentist every year to make sure the crown is in good condition.

Conclusion

CEREC crowns are used to protect damaged teeth, restoring the appearance and functionality of the teeth. That is why it is important to take good care of them. If you have one or more CEREC crowns in your mouth, ask your dentist for more tips on how to take good care of them.

Request an appointment here: https://www.gablesexceptionaldentistry.com or call Gables Exceptional Dentistry at (305) 203-4132 for an appointment in our Coral Gables office.

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