My new dentist was full of bad news for me this week. First, he told me that I grind my teeth. He said he could tell because of how they’re worn down. He also said that I need a crown on a tooth. I’ve been trying to decide which crown would hold up better with a grinder, CEREC or regular crowns?
Marlene D. – San Antonio
Marlene,
It’s great that your new dentist is on top of things. Tooth grinding is serious and can damage your teeth. Unfortunately, neither a CEREC crown or a traditional one will hold up to grinding. In fact, neither will your natural teeth, which is why it’s so serious. It could even be why one of your teeth needs a crown.
The biggest difference between a CEREC crown and another type of crown is the milling. A traditional crown is sent out and milled in a lab. The CEREC crown is milled right there in the dentist’s office while you wait.
You can get either one as long as you get a mouthguard to wear when you sleep. It will protect both the crown and your natural teeth from your grinding, which likely happens at night, so you’re likely unaware you were even doing it.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.
