Veneers and Crowns: Everything You Need to Know

Your smile is often the first thing that people notice about you, so ideally, you should be flashing a beautiful one. Unfortunately, few people have naturally perfect teeth because, well, life happens. You may have teeth that are discolored, misshapen, cracked, chipped, or uneven, but with veneers and crowns made by the doctors at Southtowns Dental Services, you can have a smile that you feel confident to show to others.

Dental veneers are made to cap oddly shaped or damaged teeth with a light restorative material to prevent further decay and damage, while saving the original structure of the tooth. Veneers can be helpful if years of smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, or eating acidic foods have stained your teeth and worn away at your enamel. They can be made of porcelain or resin, both of which provide a natural-looking solution to imperfect teeth. The shells are custom made to fit your teeth, and our team of cosmetic specialists have the experience to see that your veneers are perfect, down to the last detail.

Crowns are another specialty service offered by Southtowns Dental to give you an ideal smile. Crowns are placed over damaged teeth to protect them against further damage and decay. Southtowns is a provider of CEREC, a ceramic reconstruction crown that can be placed in a single, 90 minute session. If you have teeth that are cracked, broken, or chipped, CEREC crowns are the perfect solution. We know that you are busy with work, family, and more, so sometimes multiple follow-up appointments simply aren’t an option. You can get perfect crowns in just a single visit! Here is how it works:

1. After removing and decay and preparing you tooth for the crown, one of our specialists uses a small, handheld camera to sweep the damaged tooth or teeth as well as the area surrounding it.
2. From this image, a perfect ceramic or resin crown is created using 3-D imaging technology in office. This is special because normally, the cast of your teeth must be taken to a lab in order for a crown to be made, and that crown is often inaccurate, though it takes weeks to make. You can even watch it being made!
3. The crown is placed. It’s as simple as that- no need to wear an uncomfortable, ill-fitting crown while you wait for yours to be made.

While a typical crown appointment would involve several appointments to complete the procedure, CEREC crowns take one appointment, and there is no need for a follow-up. The procedure itself is also much more comfortable, as there is no need for goopy impression trays and multiple numbing shots- just a sweep of a camera and quick placement, all in 90 minutes.

At Southtowns Dental Services, we have the experience and the passion to give you your ideal smile. You don’t have to live with damaged or discolored teeth- we provide many options to help keep your smile bright and healthy. Veneers and CEREC crowns are two great options when it comes to fixing imperfections while still keeping your busy schedule in mind. Don’t let imperfect teeth stop you from smiling- call Southtowns Dental today for a free consultation.