Dental technology has evolved significantly in recent decades, with many procedures becoming much more convenient and requiring patients to spend less time in the chair.
Dr. Paige Lester, founder of Healthy Smiles of Birmingham, has practiced dentistry for over 20 years and witnessed lots of these changes. “I’m amazed at how quickly dental technology is advancing,” she says. “I’m constantly studying new and better methods.”
These methods include CEREC, or Chairside Economical Restoration using Esthetic Ceramic, a dramatically improved method for fabricating dental restorations, such as crowns, veneers and bridges.
In the old way of making a crown, the dentist would ask the patient to bite into a gooey mass to make a mold or impression of the tooth. A dental laboratory would use the mold to fabricate the crown. This would take a couple of weeks, during which time the patient would wear a temporary crown – often ill-fitting or uncomfortable – to protect the tooth.
With CEREC, the dentist scans the tooth using a hand-held device that creates a high-definition digital impression, then projects the images onto a chairside computer screen and views them in great detail from multiple angles. This data is sent to a computer-aided milling machine that carves the restoration from a block of dental-grade ceramic.
CEREC crowns can be fabricated in a single visit to the dentist’s practice, which eliminates the waiting period and second office visit. There’s no need to wear a temporary crown, and the new crown looks and fits perfectly.
Dr. Lester has designed same-day crowns since 2004 and brought the technology to Healthy Smiles in 2012. “The CEREC method gives me complete control over the design, materials and aesthetics,” she says. “It also greatly reduces tooth sensitivity and more quickly protects the tooth, because we’re getting an immediate seal with permanent dental cement and a final crown.”
Her patients have enjoyed the convenience of the CEREC method. “Patients absolutely love having everything completed in a pre-planned, single visit, especially if they have had a crown done in the traditional manner,” she says.
The new method also has benefits for Dr. Lester and her staff. “My highly trained dental assistants love being able to use their advanced skills to help with the scanning and manufacturing of the crowns, and I love the instant gratification of seeing a great result the same day we work on a patient's tooth,” she said.
Dr. Lester enjoys looking to the technological future of dentistry, as innovations continue. “Digital impressions, 3-D radiology, 3-D printing and facial scanning are already here or on the horizon,” she said. “Keeping up and learning with colleagues makes dentistry fun and exciting.”
The Healthy Smiles staff also continues to enjoy giving their patients high-quality, personalized care and building strong relationships.
“I’m very fortunate to have many patients and families in my office that have become friends over the years, and I love seeing them,” Dr. Lester said.
To schedule a consultation with Healthy Smiles of Birmingham, go to their website or call them at 205-991-9535.
