Northbrook dentist makes getting crowns faster, easier
By Jackie Pilossoph
Mar 05, 2015 | 3:11 PM
Getting a crown on a tooth is traditionally thought to be time consuming and expensive. The expensive part hasn't really changed, but new technology is saving patients a lot of time, as well as offering an improvement in the quality of the dental prosthetic.
Dr. Jay Rodgers, owner of his Northbrook dental practice, Northbrook Dental Care, is one of only a few dentists on the North Shore who offer on-site computer-aided design and manufacturing, known as CAM/CAD. The system allows a dentist to make a crown right in the office and cement it into the patient's mouth the same day, with the whole process taking less than two hours.
"Traditionally, being fitted for a crown required at least two visits: one visit to shape the tooth and take impressions, and asecond visita few weeks later to have the crown cemented into place," said Rodgers, a University of Illinois at Chicago dental school graduate who has practiced dentistry for 12 years, three at his Northbrook location. "The reason for the long wait between the two steps was that the impression had to be sent to a dental laboratory where the crown was fabricated."
Here's how it works: Using a Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics machine manufactured by Sirona, Rodgers waves a highly sophisticated digital imaging camera over the patient's tooth to precisely capture measurement data. Implementing this data, the crown is designed by Rodgers himself, using CERECsoftware.
"Every aspect of the crown is carefully planned, designed and reviewed prior to being created, so it turns out more accurate than a traditional crown because there's no error from the impression," said Rodgers. "It causes me to have to be a perfectionist, because if it isn't perfect, I can't blame the lab."
Additionally, the process eliminates the need for two numbing shots, since there is only one visit, and a temporary crown.
"It's a big benefit to the patients," said Rodgers, who lives in Deerfield with his wife, Jodie, and their three children. "They love it."
Jenny Stringer of Northbrook has been a patient of Rodgers for three years and recently had a crown procedure.
"They took a quick picture, and then it was almost like Photoshop," she said. "A day later, he had the crown ready and he just popped it on. It was the easiest process. The technology is just amazing."
In addition to crowns, the CAM/CAD process can be used for bridges, implant crowns and veneers. The imaging data can be emailed to labs anywhere in the world to have bite guards or orthodontic trays fabricated.
Rodgers said he purchased the CEREC machine 14 months ago, and since then has made dental prosthetics for hundreds of patients.
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"So far it's perfect," said Stringer. "There have been zero problems. It was the easiest, most pain-free process I can remember in a long time."
Northbrook Dental Care is located at 1135 Church St. in Northbrook. To learn more about CAM/CAD or about Northbrook Dental Care, visit NorthbrookDentalCare.com or call (847) 205-9337.
Jackie Pilossoph is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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