Dental Crowns

The patient presented with pain and cosmetic concerns with a lower tooth that had an old existing crown on it. During an examination, Dr. Patel found that the existing crown had an open margin between the tooth and gums that allowed for decay to get underneath. It was diagnosed that the patient needed the decay cleaned out and a new crown placed. The tooth was prepared, scanned and milled on our CEREC computer & milling unit, which allows the patient to receive their permanent crown the same day. Once the crown was made, Dr. Patel checked the margins and verified the biting occlusion, making proper adjustments for a correct fit. The patient was given instructions for proper home hygiene care and scheduled back for their routine check up appointment.

The patient presented with an old amalgam (silver) filling that had began to fall out over time. The tooth appeared to have some cracks and it was clearly visible that small pieces of the filling were missing. After performing an exam and xray, Dr. Patel diagnosed that the tooth was fractured and had current decay close to the nerve. Due to the failed existing restoration, extent of decay and condition of tooth structure, Dr. Patel recommended a build up, crown and pulp cap as treatment. The tooth was excavated, removing all present decay. During this process, laser treatment was used to access decay from under the gum line and remove the unhealthy gum tissue . Decay had reached close to the nerve, so a pulp cap was placed. A pulp cap is a material used to protect exposed nerve that is still healthy, in order to help prevent a root canal. The tooth was then built up to provide a proper base for the crown. Using the CEREC computer and milling chamber, Dr. Patel conveniently scanned the area, designed a crown and cemented it all in the same day. This eliminates the hassle of taking impressions and dealing with a temporary crown while waiting for a lab to finish the process. The patient's crown was cemented and proper adjustments were made for a correct fit and bite. He continued to return for his routine hygiene visits.

The patient came in for an emergency, due to a broken crown on a front tooth. Her main concern was saving the tooth and having treatment completed the same day, as it was a cosmetic concern when she spoke or smiled. Visually, it was noted that the crown had broken and the metal post inside was exposed. The gum tissue surrounding the tooth had become diseased and overgrown, due to the presence of decay. Dr. Patel was able to determine that the decay had reached sub-gingival, meaning very deep, below the gum line and he recommended using laser gum treatment for access. This technology combines laser energy with a gentle stream of water which allows Dr. Patel to remove the diseased tissue, then access and remove all decay. The tooth was then prepared with a build up, post and new crown completing treatment the same day. The patient was given post operative instructions and will continue on their routine hygiene schedule in our office.

The patient presented for an emergency appointment due to a broken tooth. He was beginning to have pain and the tooth was sharp. During an exam we were able to see a large piece of the existing crown had broken off and the tooth behind was discolored around an old filling . After taking an x-ray we were able to diagnose current decay under the crown and filling, so a treatment plan was presented for replacing both. The teeth were excavated (decay cleaned out) a new filling was placed in one and the other tooth was scanned using digital impressions to design and make a same day crown. The crown was placed, bite was checked and adjustments were made for a correct fit. The patient was encouraged to continue proper hygiene care at home and scheduled for his routine care in our office.

The patient presented with a broken crown on a tooth that had previous root canal treatment. Due to it's condition, the tooth was not salvageable. Dr. Patel recommended an extraction and bone graft in order to have sufficient bone structure for a future implant, at the patient's request. Once the site had healed, an implant was placed. Dr. Patel continued to monitor the patient's healing and stability of the implant over the next few months. When ready, an abutment and same day CEREC crown were placed as the final restoration. The patient left satisfied with a natural looking tooth and continues to be seen for his routine hygiene visits.

While in town visiting, the patient broke a tooth that had recently been filled back home. She was having pain and needed to be seen right away. The tooth was broken, fractured and endodontically involved, meaning there was decay into the nerve. Dr. Patel's diagnosis provided the patient with two different treatment options to either save the tooth with a root canal and crown, or extract it. She decided to save it. Dr. Patel excavated the tooth and removed all decay with the help of our Waterlase laser. The Waterlase was used to access decay below the gum line, as well as disinfect the area. Once the canals were cleaned out, they were filled with a material called "gutta percha" and then sealed off. A post was placed inside for stability and then the tooth structure was built up to support placement of a crown. Using our CEREC computer Dr. Patel took a digital scan of the tooth and a crown was made in our CEREC milling chamber the same day. Once cemented, any necessary adjustments were made to ensure a correct fit and bite.

The patient presented with two missing teeth on the lower right. She was having trouble chewing and wanted to replace them with implants. A CBCT (Cone Beam Catscan) was taken in our office, which revealed there was bone loss in the area, however the remaining bone and space made her a good candidate for implants. Dr. Patel placed bone grafts in each area to help increase the bone density, resulting in the stability needed. Once the implants were placed Dr. Patel continue to monitor the patient's healing and approximately two months later he restored the implants with abutments and crowns. The patient continues with her routine visits in our office along with her own homecare to maintain good oral health.

The patient was seen in our office for a dental emergency. She was experiencing pain and sensitivity when biting and chewing. The pain woke her up in the middle of the night, prompting her to request an emergency appointment. An exam and xray revealed that a tooth on her lower right was abscessed and due to bone loss, was now non restorable. Dr. Patel diagnosed that the tooth needed to be extracted. After discussing replacement options, the patient decided that she wanted to replace the tooth with an implant. The tooth was extracted and due to insufficient bone structure, a bone graft was placed in the site. A few months later once the site healed, an implant was placed and subsequent appointments were made to check the healing and implant stability. The implant was restored about three months later with a same day crown. (Depending on the patient's healing time and regeneration of bone, the entire implant process usually takes between 5-12 months.) Once her treatment was completed, the patient was instructed to continue with her routine care in our office.

The patient presented with concern about an old silver filling that had begun to chip away on her upper left. She was embarrassed about the look and condition of the tooth. During her exam, a digital x-ray revealed recurrent decay under the existing amalgam filling and cracks within the tooth. The old filling was removed and the tooth was excavated with the help of our WaterLase laser to access the subgingival decay. Due to the extensive decay, Dr. Patel recommended that a pulp cap be placed to help protect the unexposed nerve tissue. The tooth structure was built up for support and a crown was milled using our same day CEREC chamber. Once her occlusion was checked and any necessary adjustments were made for a correct fit and bite, the crown was permanently cemented.

The patient presented with an old bridge on her lower right that was placed many years ago. During an exam with Dr. Patel, he found extensive decay under the bridge causing the two remaining teeth to be un-restorable. A CBCT (cone beam ct scan) was taken and revealed that the patient was a good candidate for implants. After removing the old bridge, Dr. Patel extracted the teeth and placed bone grafts at both sites, due to there being insufficient bone to support the future implants. Over the next 3 months the patient was seen to monitor healing until the implants were placed and then subsequent appointments were made during the next 2 months to again monitor healing and check implant stability. Using our CEREC unit, Dr. Patel was able to fabricate and place the implant bridge in the same day. The patient continues to be seen for her routine care in our office.

The patient presented for an emergency visit due to a broken tooth. During an exam with Dr. Patel, digital x-rays revealed a vertical crack, requiring a root canal. The tooth was excavated and evaluated, while an intraoral camera was used to record diagnostic photos of the treatment process. The canals were cleaned and disinfected with the help of our Biolase laser and then filled with a material called "gutta percha". Dr. Patel placed a temporary filling at the access until the patient returned a week later for her permanent crown. The temporary filling was taken out and once all decay was removed, the remaining tooth structure was insufficient to support a crown. A post was placed and the tooth was built up to provide stability. Using our CEREC computer and milling chamber, Dr. Patel designed a crown that was then cemented the same day.