Same-Day Dental Crowns in Seattle, WA

Theron Baker DDS: Trusted Provider of Same-Day Dental Crowns

So, your dentist has recommended a dental crown to restore your smile. No need to worry—dental crown procedures are very common and effective at restoring all kinds of damage to your teeth. Patients often dread this type of cosmetic dentistry. They fear the dental crown procedure will be painful and put them out of commission for the rest of the day. Theron Baker DDS is here to dispel misinformation about dental crowns and put many of your fears to rest. Our team is among Seattle, WA’s top choices for dental crowns, and provides high-quality same-day procedures. With this innovative approach to placing crowns, we’re able to fabricate and fit your crown in just a single appointment. That means no trekking to our office multiple times to complete your treatment. Learn more about dental crowns and same-day procedures with the professionals at Theron Baker DDS.

What Is a Dental Crown?

In our years of dental experience, we’ve come across many patients who have the wrong idea of what dental crowns are. Generally speaking, dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps placed over the natural tooth and bonded to its surface. The crown covers damaged parts of the tooth and looks and functions just like your original tooth. Essentially, dental crowns act as a shield for your tooth. We recommend dental crowns for a plethora of reasons. You may need crowns to help support a dental bridge or reinforce weak teeth from further damage. We may also suggest a dental crown procedure to cover a misshapen or stained tooth or to restore a broken tooth. In any case, a dental crown will give you a natural-looking solution for a damaged tooth.

Am I a Good Candidate for the Dental Crown Procedure?

Those who experience any of the conditions mentioned above are good candidates for dental crowns. Other reasons you may need a dental crown include advanced tooth decay, oral injuries, or general pain when biting, chewing, speaking, or eating. If you need root canal treatment, dental crowns are likely for you as well. The doctors at Theron Baker DDS can help you determine whether a crown is an optimal solution for you or whether another treatment, such as an onlay, may be more ideal for your situation.

What Are the Types of Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns aren’t one-size-fits-all. At Theron Baker DDS, we want our patients to be aware of their options when it comes to dental crowns. There are several different types, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages that you’ll want to discuss with your Seattle dentist. The primary types of dental crowns include:

Metal: Metal crowns are an excellent option if you’d like to keep as much of your tooth as possible. However, many patients decide against them because their silver/gold color looks unnatural.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal: Porcelain crowns contain metal but do not have the obvious appearance of a full metal crown and will only show metal along the gumline. This option offers the strength of metal while still allowing for a natural-looking smile.
Resin: Dental crowns made from the resin can be colored to match the exact shade of your teeth. However, they’re also the weakest option and are most likely to be damaged when chewing and eating.
Ceramic/porcelain: This option offers the best aesthetic solution. Ceramic or porcelain crowns are the easiest to match your tooth color, but they tend to cause more damage to adjacent teeth than metal or resin crowns.
CEREC: At Theron Baker DDS, we often recommend Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC). This type of dental crown can be completed in just one appointment. No need for a temporary crown here! We fabricate your CEREC crown on-site with 3D technology and place the finished product all on the same day. Cerec also allows more material options and we are able to provide stronger, better fitting and more esthetic crowns.

How We Create a Dental Crown in One Visit

At first glance, it seems like a huge undertaking to create a dental crown in just one day. However, the team at Theron Baker DDS has the process down to a science. We follow these four steps when fabricating your same-day crown:

Consultation & Exam: Before we begin, we evaluate your situation to make sure CEREC is the best option for your tooth restoration.
Digital Impressions: Now it’s time to create an impression of your tooth. We use a 3D color camera to capture a digital image and save it to a state-of-the-art computer.
Design & Create: With advanced CAD/CAM technology, we get to work designing your dental crown. Once we’re satisfied with the design, we send it to our milling machine to create your custom dental crown.
Glaze & Place: During this final step, we make sure the finished crown fits comfortably in your mouth. We then glaze and bond the crown into place to restore your fresh, beautiful smile!

Explore the Benefits of CEREC

When there are so many other options, why choose CEREC over more traditional dental crowns? In short, CEREC has revolutionized cosmetic dentistry and comes with a plethora of added benefits. Here are a few benefits of this innovative treatment:

Reduced pain
Fewer visits
Non-invasive procedure
Mercury-free materials
Teeth strengthened against cracks and chips
Less tooth sensitivity
Long-lasting
Save more of your natural tooth
No temporary crowns
A natural-looking smile

Make an Appointment at Theron Baker DDS

Traditional or same-day crowns have the potential to restore your smile back to its natural beauty. Whether you need a root canal and crown or want to cover severe discoloration, dental crowns may be the best choice for you. As with any medical procedure, individual results may vary, and you should always consult with your dentist at Theron Baker DDS. Our team is one of the top dental crown providers in Seattle, WA, and we’re happy to walk you through your restorative options. Get the smile you deserve today! Contact us to schedule an appointment.

Same-Day Crowns at the Office of Theron Baker DDS

At the office of Theron Baker DDS, we proudly perform a wide range of dental procedures — including general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and emergency dentistry — for patients of all ages in downtown Seattle, WA area. With our new CEREC machine, we are able to give patients same day crowns, inlays, onlays, and bridges without having to use any metal. Dr. Baker is a Washington native, a graduate of the University of Washington School of Dentistry, and a leader in cutting-edge procedures.

As a leader in state-of-the-art dental procedures, we strive to stay on the forefront of dental technology and best practices. Dr. Baker and his team have trained extensively to incorporate this new technology and have used CEREC successfully with hundreds of patients of all ages for a number of procedures, including bridges, onlays, inlays, and, of course, same-day crowns. We understand just how busy your day-to-day schedule can be, which is why our experienced dental team is excited to offer you all these quick procedures to best accommodate your lifestyle.

Let us fill you in on all the details about our CEREC procedures today!
Call us at (206) 343-8774 or request an appointment online.

Everything You Need to Know About CEREC Dental Crowns

CEREC Dental Crowns FAQs

What is a Crown?

Crowns can be a great solution for both structural and cosmetic issues. They are available for most patients, including children. Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that are used to restore teeth to their prior strength, shape, and appearance. In the event that one of your teeth becomes compromised or infected, a crown is placed on top of the existing surface and bonded to the tooth, fully covering the previously visible portion of the tooth.

If you’re dealing with significant tooth decay, major trauma to a tooth or the need for a dental bridge, you may need to have a dental crown. Dental crown restoration goes beyond a dental filling or dental onlay by covering most of the tooth.

There is a wide range of dental crown types available, including stainless steel, metals like gold or other alloys, ceramic, porcelain, resin or porcelain fused to metal. The different types of materials all have different advantages and disadvantages.

Getting a Dental Crown

What is CEREC?

CEREC, short for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, is a machine that allows your dentist to design and mill dental restorations chairside so you don’t have to return for a follow-up appointment or wear a temporary crown for weeks while waiting for a lab to fabricate your crown. Our dental professionals use CEREC’s 3D and CAD/CAM technology to design a virtual restoration (either an onlay, inlay, bridge, or crown) without having to take impressions. When used in tandem with our milling unit, we can completely finish restoration in a single appointment.

Why Would I Need a CEREC Crown?

There are many reasons why you might need a dental crown including:

to finish a dental implant
if you have extreme discoloration of a tooth
severe tooth decay
a broken, chipped or damaged tooth
after a root canal

Are CEREC Crowns Covered by Insurance?

Some dental insurance plans may cover the full cost of traditional and same-day dental crowns but most do not cover 100% of the cost. In most cases, if you have an HSA or FSA, you can use this to cover the remaining cost of your crowns. Since there are so many different insurance coverage options for dental crowns it is best to speak with your dental insurance provider about your coverage options prior to scheduling your dental crowns appointment.

Is the CEREC Crown Durable? How Long Do They Last?

There is no difference in durability between CEREC one-visit dental crowns and traditional dental crowns. In fact, these crowns typically last 10-15 years. With good oral habits and twice a year dental exams and teeth cleanings it is possible to have the crown last longer than 15 years.

Are CEREC Crowns More Expensive Than Traditional Crowns?

Most insurance companies will cover CEREC one-visit dental crowns similar to how they would cover traditional crowns. The long term advantages of CEREC crowns are:

Less risk of recurrent decay due to the bonding method
The material is very durable and healthier for your gum tissue
Less tooth structure is removed using the CEREC method

Are Crowns the Only Restorations Done with CEREC Technology?

CEREC technology can be used for a variety of one-visit dental restorations including inlays, onlays and bridges. The restorative dental treatments with CEREC focus on rebuilding teeth compromised by decay, oral injury, malfunction, root canal therapy, infection or multiple fillings. Dr. Baker believes in providing excellent patient care by continuously learning about new technology and staying up to date with new advances in the field of dentistry.

When are Crowns Needed?

There are a variety of different dental situations that can call for a crown. For many tooth problems such as mild tooth decay, fillings or dental onlays provide a comprehensive solution. But when tooth decay expands to take a significant portion of the tooth or you’re dealing with greater problems like cracked teeth, crowns may be necessary..

A dental crown is most often used:

With dental bridges – A crown is often placed on both teeth that will support a bridge as a means of providing support.
To restore already broken teeth – Broken teeth can be capped with a crown to prevent further damage and provide a more secure surface in the mouth for chewing.
To protect weak teeth from breaking – Crowns add stability to teeth that are already weakened and can help keep them from additional breakage.
As a cosmetic cover for misshapen or severely stained teeth – Crowns cover the tooth and present a perfect substitute for stained or badly shaped teeth.
To cover a tooth that has a large filling with little tooth surrounding it – Teeth that have a large filling in the middle may crack; crowns can prevent this from happening.

Crowns can be made to match your tooth color for a more seamless appearance.

A Dental Crown Acts As A Shield For Your Tooth

While it may be the “crown” (literally) of all restorative pieces, a dental crown actually acts as the knight in shining armor. Since the dental crown covers the whole tooth, it shields the tooth from plaque bacteria, acid and excessive biting pressure.

This puts less weight put on your natural tooth. Instead, the dental crown is the one going to battle each day, keeping the natural tooth safe and stable. This makes crown restoration a great option for tooth decay, following root canal when the tooth is very brittle, and for a chipped or cracked tooth.

Want to Know More?

Using CEREC, our dental professionals can do same-day dental restorations on a wide range of procedures including crowns, inlays, onlays, and bridges. The finished restorations look outstanding and last for years. With our office conveniently located in downtown Seattle, we make getting same-day crowns easier than ever.

Watch a video on how CEREC dental restorations are completed.