CAD/CAM Dentistry in Pflugerville, TX
Digital Technology for Custom Dental Crowns
Restoring a damaged tooth should fit into your life. At Apolonia Smiles in Pflugerville, TX, we use CAD/CAM technology to digitally scan, design, and create custom dental restorations. This digital workflow helps us offer same-day dental crowns for eligible patients, with fewer appointments and less time waiting for a finished restoration.
Whether you have a broken tooth, a large filling, or a tooth that needs protection after root canal treatment, our team will explain your options and determine whether an in-office crown is appropriate for you.
What Is CAD/CAM Dentistry?
CAD/CAM stands for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. In dentistry, it combines digital scanning, specialized design software, and milling equipment to create restorations customized to your teeth.
The process begins with a digital model of your mouth. Your dentist uses that model to plan the restoration’s shape, contours, and relationship to your bite. Milling equipment then shapes the restoration from a dental material, followed by the processing and finishing steps needed before placement.
At Apolonia Smiles, this technology supports a coordinated workflow—from your initial scan to the final fit check.
How Our Digital Crown Process Works
1. Examine and Prepare Your Tooth
We evaluate your tooth, discuss your treatment options, and take any necessary X-rays. If a crown is recommended, we numb the area and prepare the tooth. Some teeth also need a buildup to provide adequate support for the restoration.
2. Take a Digital Impression
Our intraoral scanner captures detailed images of the prepared tooth, nearby teeth, and your bite. These images create a three-dimensional digital model used to design your crown.
For many crown procedures, digital scanning replaces traditional impression trays and putty.
3. Design Your Custom Crown
Using CAD software, we design the crown around your individual tooth and bite. We assess the edges of the restoration, contact with neighboring teeth, and chewing surfaces.
The goal is a restoration that fits comfortably, supports chewing, and complements your smile.
4. Mill and Finish the Restoration
The design is sent to our milling equipment to create the crown. Our zirconia crowns undergo the required heat processing, called sintering, along with appropriate finishing and polishing before placement.
5. Check the Fit and Place Your Crown
Before securing the crown, your dentist checks its fit, contacts, appearance, and bite. Any necessary adjustments are made, and you receive instructions for caring for your restored tooth.
Benefits of CAD/CAM Dental Technology
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Fewer visits for eligible cases: A suitable crown can be designed, made, and placed during one appointment.
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Digital impressions: Scanning can reduce the need for conventional impression materials.
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Personalized design: Your restoration is planned using the shape of your teeth and your bite.
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In-office coordination: Our team oversees the design, fabrication, and clinical fit.
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Less time with a temporary crown: When treatment is completed the same day, a temporary crown is generally unnecessary.
Technology supports the process, while your dentist’s examination, preparation, and final checks remain essential to the result.
Zirconia Crowns at Apolonia Smiles
At Apolonia Smiles, we use zirconia for our dental crowns. Zirconia is a strong, tooth-colored ceramic that can be shaped through a digital milling workflow. Your crown’s shade and contours are selected to complement the surrounding teeth. Your dentist also considers the tooth’s location, available space, and biting forces when planning the restoration. A crown’s long-term performance depends on more than its material. The health of the supporting tooth, the fit of the restoration, oral hygiene, and habits such as grinding all matter.
Is a Same-Day Crown Right for You?
Same-day treatment may be an option when a tooth needs a crown because of damage, extensive decay, a large existing filling, or previous root canal treatment. However, some cases require additional treatment, laboratory support, or more than one appointment. The condition of your tooth and gums, the complexity of the restoration, and the time needed to complete fabrication all influence the schedule. We will explain the recommended approach before treatment begins.
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