How can we help you?
At Hudzinski Dental, we appreciate your questions because we believe that the most informed patients have the best chance of maintaining a healthy, problem-free smile. Whatever is on your mind, whether it's about a procedure, finances, or any other concerns, we're always here to help.
On this page, you'll find some of the questions we hear most often. Please take a look, and if you don't see what you need here, don't hesitate to call our team at (440) 585-4200.
CEREC® Crowns and Bridges
Caring for a crown or bridge is similar to caring for your natural teeth. Brush twice daily, floss every day, and keep up with regular dental checkups.
With proper care, crowns typically last 10 to 15 years, and bridges have a similar lifespan, though both can last longer depending on your oral habits and how well you maintain them.
Daily Care for Dental Crowns
A crown covers a single tooth, so you can brush and floss around it just like your other teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to avoid scratching the surface. Pay attention to the gumline where the crown meets your natural tooth. Plaque can still accumulate there, leading to decay underneath.
Daily Care for Bridges
Bridges require a little extra attention because they span a gap with a false tooth in between. Regular floss won't thread underneath, so you'll need a floss threader or a water flosser to clean beneath the artificial tooth and around the anchor crowns. This prevents bacteria from building up and affecting the supporting teeth.
Avoid These Habits
- Chewing ice, hard candy, or other hard objects
- Using your teeth to open packages or tear tape
- Biting down on pens, pencils, or fingernails
- Grinding or clenching without a night guard
When to Call Your Dentist
If your crown feels loose, your bridge shifts when you chew, or you notice any discomfort, contact our office. Early attention to small problems can prevent bigger issues later.
Questions about your restoration? Call our Mayfield Heights, OH, office at (440) 585-4200.
CEREC is a chairside system that uses a digital scanner to capture a 3D image of your prepared tooth, then designs and mills a custom ceramic crown in-office using computer-aided design and an on-site milling unit - eliminating the physical impression and outside dental laboratory that traditional crowns require.
After preparing the tooth, we take a digital scan instead of a traditional impression, design the crown on-screen while you wait, and mill it from a solid ceramic block on-site - typically 15 to 20 minutes. The crown is then stained, glazed, fired, polished and permanently bonded, all in one appointment.
A filling is appropriate for smaller areas of decay where enough healthy tooth structure remains to support the tooth on its own. A crown is needed when decay or a crack is extensive enough that a filling would leave too little natural structure remaining, risking fracture under normal chewing force.
Yes. CEREC crowns are milled from the same high-strength ceramic materials used in traditional lab-fabricated crowns, and multiple long-term studies show comparable survival rates between the two. The manufacturing method differs, but the resulting material strength is equivalent.