Same-day crowns

Dr. Jamie Bennett, of Bennett Family Dental, was one of the first in the area to introduce same-day crowns and bridges. He invested in CEREC technology (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) 11 years ago after undergoing training. Currently only one in five dentists is able to offer the same-day treatment.

“To me, it didn’t make sense to go through all the years studying anatomy in dental school, then hand off crowns to techs at an outside lab,” he says. “With today’s computer-aided design and manufacturing technology, there’s no reason patients should have to schedule two visits and wear temporary crowns between the visits. Temporaries are thin and prone to cracking and coming off.” 

Along with his associates, Dr. Katelyn (Jakyma) Kosileski and Dr. Mansukh Dhillon, Dr. Jamie makes crowns at both of his Westlake locations. He reports the service makes up about one-third of his practice.

Better and Better

Dr. Jamie says he is already on his third iteration of this equipment. He continues to undergo advanced training to keep up with it.

“The quality of the outcomes we are able to achieve just keeps getting better and better,” he says. “It’s a blend of art and science. Nothing ever leaves our practice, we have everything from the software to milling machines and ovens to finalize the crown. We control every part of the process. Patients enjoy natural-looking teeth.”

He explains CEREC also allows him and his associates to come up with creative and elegant solutions for tricky dental conditions.

“For instance, I just saw a patient who was not a candidate for a crown, but I was able to create a Maryland bridge to restore his missing tooth,” he says. 

“I made ‘wings’ on a resin replacement tooth and bonded them to the adjacent healthy teeth. Another application is we often need to make extra teeth to repair dentures.”

Using 3D cone beam digital X-rays provides the most accurate imaging of dental structures and helps refine crowns made with CEREC. Using high-end materials such as zirconia also makes a difference. 

“Looking back, I’m happy that I sought out advanced technology at the beginning of my career,” he says. “It has made me a better dentist.”

Although the cost of CEREC is steep, Dr. Jamie does not charge the patients more than he would for traditional crowns.

Ready for Your Makeover?

Whether crowns, bridges or a host of cosmetic treatments like Opalescence Go whitening, veneers or clear aligners, before deciding on each patient’s dental plan, the dentists sit down with him and her and do a smile makeover. They even encourage patients to bring in pictures of smiles they like.

“For us, trust is everything,” he adds. “Our patients know they can put their trust in our expertise, technology and mission to make their experience the best it can be. Our tagline, ‘treating your family like our family,’ is something we live up to every day.”

In the US Army Dental Corps, Dr. Bennett enhanced his skills as a clinician while he worked side by side with some of the finest board certified specialists in the world. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Dr. Jamie has continued his service with the Ohio National Guard the last 20-plus years. Service to country is another value held dear. 

Bennett Family Dental has two Westlake locations: 27748 Center Ridge Road (440-835-2121) and 24525 Detroit Road (440-835-2020). Visit BennettFamilyDental.com for more information.