CEREC Crowns at Prairie Hawk Dental

Crowns are used to protect and strengthen teeth that have become extremely weak, decayed or fractured. By covering your affected tooth and restoring it to its original shape and size, dental crowns (sometimes called caps) can help reduce pain, save your tooth from needing to be extracted and keep your smile beautiful and functional. At our office in Castle Rock, CO, we can see if a crown is necessary to save your smile.

Over time, as your teeth begin to weaken, they become more susceptible to problems, including decay, cracks and discoloration. Crowns are usually only necessary if decay has reached the point where the tooth structure is compromised. At Prairie Hawk Dental, we use CEREC restorations, which are made of compressed porcelain and possibly stronger than the layered porcelain crowns created in a laboratory. In addition to being stronger and longer-wearing, CEREC restorations can also be created and installed in only one visit, unlike laboratory restorations, which can take weeks to complete and require a temporary crown or restoration to be placed in the meantime.

The placement procedure for a CEREC restoration is easy and doesn’t require you to bite on any goopy and uncomfortable impression material. First all the decay is removed from your teeth, and then the dentist shapes the tooth in preparation for the digital 3D video impression that is taken with a digital camera. The camera is attached to a computer screen, which displays the 3D image, allowing the dentist to design the restoration in front of you. Then the CEREC machine creates the crown in about 15-30 minutes and the dentist adheres it to the tooth preparation. The entire process, from design to installation, takes around an hour and a half per tooth.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Aaron Goodman, call 720-515-1801. For more information, please visit www.prairiehawkdental.com. 

Crown Lengthening with Dr. Aaron Goodman

A dentist’s first goal is always to save your teeth, which means that dental professionals have developed many dental procedures that help prevent tooth extraction. One such procedure is crown lengthening, which we use at Prairie Hawk Dental in cases where decay has decimated a tooth to a point where there is not enough tooth structure left upon which to fix a crown.

If a tooth has broken below the gum line or if decay has developed underneath an existing crown or filling, crown lengthening allows a new crown to be placed rather than extracting the tooth.

While called crown lengthening, this common surgical procedure does not actually lengthen the crown. What it does is lower the gum line, and it does this by removing gum tissue, bone or both to expose more of the tooth and provide a foundation for the crown.

The procedure is performed with a local anesthesia to numb the area. When the area is fully numb, Dr. Aaron Goodman will gently and with a state-of-the-art laser expose the roots and surrounding bone. In some cases, removing a little of the gum tissue will expose enough of the tooth for placing a crown. However, it is more likely that some bone will also have to be removed from around the roots of the teeth. After removing the necessary amount of tissue and bone, the area will be washed. 

Occasionally, the gums will have to be sutured or stitched, but most of the time with the laser, that is unnecessary. 

Our office works hard to always protect your teeth and to provide the best quality of dental care available. To schedule an appointment at our practice in Castle Rock, CO, call 720-515-1801. For more information, please visit www.prairiehawkdental.com.

Intraoral Camera

Advancements in technology have dramatically improved the way that dentists practice, enhancing every step of dental care, from diagnosis to treatment. New technology has even improved the way that dentists view and diagnose patients’ teeth, with digital intraoral cameras quickly becoming an industry standard. At Prairie Hawk Dental, we use an intraoral camera to provide our patients dental care worth smiling about.

The intraoral camera is an effective tool for viewing patients’ teeth and mouths from different angles. This allows us to see the mouth from angles that were not available even a couple years ago. The camera connects to a monitor that allows the dentist to view the structures of your teeth more closely and with better accuracy than traditional methods. More views for our Dr. Aaron Goodman mean there is a greater chance he will spot any problems sooner and be able to fix them before they can become more serious or painful.

These digital images also allow the patient and insurance companies to see what the doctor has seen which lets you understand your oral health better and gain procedures acceptance from your insurance company more easily. In addition, by using digital intraoral cameras and digital X-rays, instead of traditional dental X-rays, you dentist can limit your exposure to radiation.

To schedule an appointment with us in Castle Rock, CO, call 720-515-1801. For more information, visit www.PrairieHawkDental.com.