Jul 7, 2008 3:01 pm US/Eastern
HealthWatch: Tooth Crowns In Just One Sitting
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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A new procedure lets dentists replace a patient's tooth in one sitting.
CBS
Sometimes you have to go to the dentist multiple times to replace a tooth, but there is a new procedure that can make it all happen in just one sitting.
Christopher Elliott knows about dental work. This is the third time he's needed a crown on a tooth.
"The major problem I've got at the moment is that I had an abscess on an upper tooth," Elliott said.
Normally the first step is to take an impression or cast of the patient's teeth with thick trays and molding material.
"It was some sort of sticky stuff but it definitely stuck to the teeth when they tried to peel it off which was not very pleasant," Elliott said.
Then the bad tooth is ground down, a temporary one is fitted, and a couple of weeks later you have to come back, have your teeth numbed again and the permanent crown placed.
Instead, Christopher is going to get it all done in one day.
"Instead of the traditional two-visit procedure it's done in one visit, usually under an hour," Dr. Jonathan Abenaim from the Jonathan Dental Spa said.
Dr. Abenaim first uses a special digital camera system that photographs the diseased tooth and all its neighbors. Then a computerized design system allows him to adjust and customize the crown-to-be.
Then a milling machine takes a solid block of ceramic and uses those precise computer-generated measurements to grind a near-perfect crown, all while Christopher watches his new tooth being made.
In addition to speed, the new system assures a high quality restoration, which doesn't always happen when crowns are sent to be made in offshore labs.
"We've had reports of lead being in some of the restorations because crowns are made with porcelain and medal you can have sometimes high levels of nickel, high levels of lead, people starting to have allergic reactions," Dr. Abenaim said.
Fifteen minutes later, Christopher is back in the chair. Dr. Abenaim does a little polishing to adjust the crown for a perfect fit. A little hi-tech glue and Christopher has a new crown. The entire procedure takes a little over an hour from start to finish.
"Excellent. Very quick. Don't have to come back in two weeks time or three weeks time and come and get the actual fitting," Elliott said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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