This is the latest technology in creating metal free custom porcelain crowns, bridges, partial crowns (inlays, onlays and overlays), and other treatments for reconstructive and cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneers and lumineers. In the past, the process for creating these types of dental restorations could take one week or longer; patients would have to visit a dental office for several fittings, as well as wait for a laboratory to create the restoration. With such innovations, we utilize 3D computer software to capture unique images of your mouth using cameras and without the need for the classical bothering mouth filled impressions. Then, we can use these camera images along with a state-of-the-art milling unit to create your customized restorations right in our office. It typically takes about one hour per restoration. Computer Aided Design- Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology often allows us to complete a process that used to take weeks in just one office visit!
Porcelain dental crowns can be an effective solution for restoring form and function and appearance to damaged teeth, especially root canal treated and/or heavily filled teeth. Utilizing our CAD-CAM technology, we can often provide custom-made dental crowns right here in our office in just one visit. During the procedure, 3D imaging software enables us to take a digital impression of your teeth and design your crown with the utmost precision. Once the design has been completed, your crown will be fabricated out of durable porcelain material using milling technology and then secured to your tooth with strong adhesive cement. Through proper care and maintenance, your porcelain dental crowns can last for decades.
Dental bridges can be a good option if you are missing one or more consecutive teeth along your gum line. Those can be also fabricated using our CAD/CAM technology. At
Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center, our doctors use E-Max and Zirconia – a durable, non-metallic material that more closely resembles the natural color of teeth – to construct dental bridges right here in our office, making us one of the few practices in the area to offer this convenience. Dental bridges are often supported on either side by other restorations such as dental crowns or dental implants, depending on your specific needs. Ultimately, this effective cosmetic treatment can provide beautiful results while helping to improve function, speaking, chewing, and a variety of other problems associated with missing teeth. At
Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center, to replace missing teeth, we strongly advocate the use of dental implants over bridges that need chopping down the structure of the adjacent teeth especially once those are healthy and fillings free. This will also yield individualized crowns that can be more easily maintained, such as with natural teeth.
Inlays and onlays are dental restorations used by a select number of dentists. Once indicated, they are a more conservative alternative to full coverage dental crowns. We generally prefer using Inlays and Onlays over single crowns for severely destructed, root canal treated and fractured teeth, because these just occupy the defected missing tooth structure and do not need the classical 360 degrees wrap around tooth structure reduction needed for crown preparations. This means that less tooth structure is removed, more tooth structure is preserved, restoration margin away from gums for better gingival health and yet with strength and durability.
Inlay or an onlay is also indicated once a tooth is suffering from a decay or fracture is so extensive that a direct filling such as amalgam or composite, would compromise the structural integrity of the restored tooth or provide substandard opposition to biting forces. When an inlay/onlay is used, the tooth-to-restoration margin may be finished and polished to such a super-fine line of contact that recurrent decay will be all but very rare to occur. While these restorations might be more expensive than direct fillings, the superiority of an inlay/onlay in terms of resistance to occlusal forces, protection against recurrent decay, precision of fabrication, marginal integrity, proper contouring for gingival (tissue) health, and ease of cleansing offers an excellent alternative to the direct restorations.
Also known as indirect fillings, inlays and onlays offer a well-fitting, stronger, longer lasting reparative solution to tooth decay or similar damage. These restorations are beneficial from both an esthetic and functional point of view. Inlays and onlays can often be used in place of traditional dental fillings to treat tooth decay or similar structural damage. Whereas dental fillings are molded into place within the mouth during a dental visit, inlays and onlays are fabricated indirectly in an office or in a dental lab before being fitted and bonded to the damaged tooth by your dentist.
CAD-CAM is also used to fabricate endocrowns, which are indicated for the restoration of severely damaged molars/premolars. This monolithic, ceramic adhesive restoration requires specific preparation techniques to satisfy criteria that are primarily biomechanical in nature. This simple and efficient concept is compatible with the philosophy of bio-integrated prostheses “biologically integrated restorations”. It is a minimally invasive procedure that utilizes the nerve pulp chamber space for mechanical and adhesive locking of the endocrown. It does not need any post preparation and insertion into the nerve canals eliminating the root fracture incidences caused by such posts. It is a gum friendly restoration with good integration and overlay “top surface” coverage for tooth protection against its fracture. We use this type of reconstruction, which is still uncommon, to protect you from losing your severely damaged tooth.
We use advanced CAD/CAM technology to create beautiful and precise-fitting porcelain veneers. Porcelain dental veneers are thin, tooth-colored ceramic laminates which are bonded permanently to the frontal surface of the teeth. In most cases, only a very thin layer of the visible tooth structure has to be prepared. In comparison to a crown restoration almost all tooth hard tissue will be spared and protected.
Dental Veneers allow covering big inter-dental spaces, correct teeth misalignments or length differences. Veneers can be an excellent treatment option for patients seeking to improve the appearance of teeth stains, chips, cracks, gaps, and a number of other perceived tooth imperfections such as worn and disproportionate teeth. At
Dr. Raed M. Abutteen Dental Center, we are dedicated to utilizing the latest dental technologies to ensure you receive the most comfortable and successful treatment in a safe and efficient manner.
Using this advanced CAD-CAM technology, we can digitally design and customize your porcelain veneers to resemble the look and feel of your natural teeth, all while providing you with highly-durable, long-lasting results. In just a single office visit, we can design and secure your custom veneers, enabling you in certain cases to walk away with a new, beautiful smile on the same day as your appointment! It should be however noted that in cases where teeth demonstrate multiple fillings, white gaps, trauma or severe discoloration lab-fabricated ceramic veneers are indicated. Speedy treatments are not always indicated. Your overall final satisfaction is the heart of everything we do.
The Benefits of the Conservative Inlays/Onlays/ Endo-Crowns Approach
Superior Fit: They offer a conservative preparation that preserves as much healthy tooth as possible. They are a great choice if you have moderate or more tooth decay that extends into a flossing area, offering an excellent alternative to full coverage crowns that require removal of a generous portion of the tooth structure. Thanks to the digital process with direct scanning of your tooth, design of your crown with software, and production with CAD/CAM machine the fit of your All Porcelain crown will be much more precise than the classical porcelain crown with metal sub-frame.
Tooth Color: Boasting esthetic longevity, they are not likely to discolor over time as tooth-colored resin fillings often do. With all-porcelain crowns, light travels through them just like a tooth. This gives them a very natural appearance as opposed to the traditional Porcelain crown fuse to a metal frame that has a metal substructure that blocks light and creates a dark band of the tooth below. All-porcelain crowns will never change color, offering a lifelike appearance for decades to come.
Tooth Structure Safeguard: They preserve the maximum amount of healthy tooth structure while restoring decayed or damaged areas, helping to ensure functional longevity. With all porcelain crowns, we do a crown preparation that generally conserves 20 to 25 percent of the tooth in comparison to a traditional crown preparation. All-porcelain crowns produce with CAD/CAM machines can be thinner than porcelain crowns with metal frames.
Easy Tooth Cleaning: Because the fit is tailored at all edges and the preparation minimal, your tooth can be easier to clean than it would be with full coverage restorative alternatives such as a dental crown. Composite fillings can shrink during the curing process, whereas prefabricated porcelain or gold inlays/onlays will not and accordingly ensuring a precise fit with much less chances for recurrent marginal decay.
Tight Space Fulfillments: If you have a cavity between your teeth, consider an inlay rather than a direct composite filling or a full coverage crown. They are better at sealing teeth to keep out bacteria; they are easy to clean, will not stain and offer exceptional longevity.
Strength and Stability: They are extremely stable restorative solutions for the treatment of decay. The superior fit and durable material make them a stable choice that can actually strengthen a damaged tooth.
Weak Tooth Protector: An onlay can protect the weak areas of the tooth. The procedure does not require the complete reshaping of the tooth as with classical full coverage crowns.
Better Biocompatibility: All-porcelain crowns are much less abrasive than porcelain crowns with metal frames. Therefore, they will nor abrade and compromise the strength or function of your healthy opposing teeth that are in contact with your crown or bridge during biting. Besides, gum tissue better tolerates the all porcelain material than the porcelain fused to metal crowns that contain non-precious metal components and cause irritation to the gum tissues.
This cutting-edge approach to cosmetic dentistry treatment can effectively revitalize your smile by improving both the form, function and health of your teeth with virtually no discomfort or downtime after treatment. Additionally, CAD-CAM restorations are designed to be maintained through routine oral cleaning habits, and they can last for decades! To learn more about CAD/CAM technology and minimally invasive dentistry procedures including inlays, onlays, endo-crowns and much more and how it can benefit you, please contact our practice and schedule an appointment and we will be excited to serve you.
