San Diego and La Mesa Dentist Discusses CEREC Same Day Dental Crowns

LA MESA, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 16, 2015) - Many people have experienced dental issues that required the placement of a customized dental restoration such as a crown or porcelain veneer. For decades, these commonly performed dental treatments have helped patients reinforce damaged teeth and improve their appearance; however, the treatment process typically involved a number of steps that resulted in the patient waiting weeks for the restoration to be created at an outside dental laboratory. Dr. Jimmy Wu, a cosmetic dentist in La Mesa, says an advanced technology called CEREC® is changing that. "CEREC® allows us to restore teeth with dental crowns, bridges, veneers, and implants in a single visit with precision and accuracy that is second-to-none."

CEREC® is an in-office milling system that utilizes computer-aided design and 3-D imaging software to create dental restorations in the office where treatment is being provided. Once the dental problem has been identified and the dentist has concluded that a restoration will be necessary to resolve it, the affected tooth is prepared and then scanned using digital technology. The next step in the CEREC® restoration process is to feed the digital image into the computer and design the restoration. When this is accomplished, Dr. Wu says, the restoration will be milled from a block of porcelain. "The entire process can take less than an hour and be completed in a single visit."

Dr. Wu says traditional methods involved in creating dental restorations had a tendency to make the process more cumbersome, less precise, and less convenient for many patients. A dental "putty" would need to be placed on the patient's teeth to take an impression, which would then be sent to an outside lab. Overall, Dr. Wu notes, the process at the laboratory could take up to two weeks to complete, and the many steps involved in the creation of the restoration could increase the potential for an imprecise design. "The initial impression, even if taken while the patient is perfectly still, has a margin of error based on the ability of the dentist and the expansion and contraction of the impression material. In a lot of cases, the crown or bridge may not fit and then the whole process must then be redone. There is just way too much variability with this method."

CEREC®, Dr. Wu says, ultimately makes the entire process more convenient and more precise for both the patient and the dentist. "There are no messy impressions that can cause gagging; no temporary crowns or bridges falling off causing pain; and no guesswork as to whether or not the crown or bridge will fit."

Ultimately, dental restorations can help patients strengthen and protect weakened and damaged teeth, support a dental bridge, serve as the finishing touch for a dental implant, and enhance the appearance of one's smile. Dr. Wu says CEREC® technology adds to those many benefits by making the treatment process easier for patients and helping them achieve long-lasting, natural-looking results.

About Jimmy Wu, DDS
Dr. Jimmy Wu has been a practicing dentist for more than 15 years. After graduating from the University of California-San Diego with a degree in Biology, Dr. Wu received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Southern California. Dr. Wu is a strong proponent of continuing dental education to stay updated on the latest procedures and techniques, and has completed more than 5,000 hours of additional training and instruction. Sutra Dental Spa offers a comprehensive array of general, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatments, including teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, dental implant restorations, and other options. Dr. Wu is available for interview upon request.

For more information about Dr. Wu and Sutra Dental Spa, please visit sutrads.com or facebook.com/SutraDentalSpa.

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