Porcelain and Ceramic Dental Crowns
James Island & Charleston
Do you have a damaged tooth that needs restoration with a dental crown?
At James Island Dental Associations, we use CEREC technology, which enables Dr. Thomas and Dr. Weir to make crowns in one day. Many times we are able to do this for you in just a single appointment, which means you don’t have to wear a temporary dental crown.
When Are Dental Crowns Needed?
We recommend crowns when a tooth has become damaged due to trauma or decay. When damage to the tooth is small, we can often use tooth-colored filling material to repair it and build it back up. In some cases, however, the damage is too extensive to be corrected with composite materials, and in this case a crown is the right choice. A cracked tooth or a tooth that has been treated with a root canal will also benefit from the protection of a crown.
Sometimes a tooth is healthy but a crown is used to correct its appearance. This is common if we are dealing with issues that affect the alignment or size of the tooth. Each crown is a tooth-shaped “helmet” that we place over the top of the prepared tooth. Although we use esthetic materials like porcelain and ceramic to craft your crowns, these materials are also highly durable. This is vital since your teeth do a lot of hard work!
Dental Crown in Just One Day
It used to be that placing a crown required multiple appointments over a period of weeks.
The patient would come in and we’d assess the problem and determine whether a crown is necessary. Next, we’d prepare the tooth for the crown and take impressions using impression paste. Using these impressions, we’d create models of the prepared tooth and send these along with our specific instructions to an offsite dental lab, where your crowns would be manufactured. We would place a temporary crown on the prepared tooth to protect it while you waited for your permanent restorations. After a couple of weeks, the crown would be returned to our office and we call you back so we could test the new crown and, if everything is correct, we would remove the temporary crown and place the permanent crown.
Today, this long process is no longer necessary!
Our CEREC system allows us to complete the entire process right here in our office from start to finish without the need to involve a third-party lab. CEREC eliminates the weeks of wait time, the need for a temporary crown, and even the hassle of goopy impression paste!
After preparing your tooth, we take a digital impression, which is sent to our computer. Using specialized software, Dr. Weir and Dr. Thomas can design your crown and then send the instructions to the milling machine, which creates the new restoration. As soon as it’s complete, we can check the fit and then place your crown and you are free to enjoy the rest of your day.
Our Legacy
Convenience
We make it easy and convenient to schedule appointments and make payments online with our patient connect portal.
Advanced Technology
Advanced Technology
We have the latest dental technology to care for all of your dental needs in-house.
Comfort
Welcoming Atmosphere
We strive to create a stress-free experience curated by our friendly and welcoming staff.
Get Started
New Patients
Are you a new patient to James Island Dental Associates? Get started now by following the link and completing the requested forms to make your visit easy and stress-free.
Current Patients
Get Started
New Patients
Are you a new patient to James Island Dental? Get started now by following the link and completing the requested forms to make your visit easy and stress-free.
Current Patients
We make is easy for existing patients of James Island Dental to easily access medical information, schedule appointments, and make online payments. Log in now.
Posted on Google
Ron DeWitt24 September 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Just received outstanding dental care today, as usual, at James Island Dental Associates.Posted on Google
Linda Baranoski24 September 2026My appointment was timely. Everything went smoothly. Rosemary was excellent as always & Dr. Weir was his jovial efficient self. đPosted on Google
Bryan Smith21 September 2026Been going to Dr. Tom Weir for nearly 20 yearsâŚbest dentist in Charleston!Posted on Google
Patrica Lindros17 September 2026I had two Very painful infections. Dr Weir did two root canals within a couple of weeks of each other. They were painless and effective. The staff was very courteous. I wouldnât want anyone to ever take care of my dental needs except James Island or Johns Island dental practice. Dr. Weir is terrific.Posted on Google
Olivia Erskine17 September 2026Amy was a wonderful dental hygienist! She was very gentle and made me feel super comfortable. Always friendly staff here and quick and efficient service all around.
MORE QUESTIONS?
CEREC is the name of a company that has digitized making crowns or caps. With CEREC technology, Dr. Weir and Dr. Thomas are able to take pictures of your teeth and make a permanent crown for you in one visit. At James Island Dental Associates, we are able to avoid taking “goopy” impressions and making temporary crowns, while you have to wait for 3 weeks to get your crown. In one 90 minute appointment, we make your crown start to finish!
How long do crowns last?
Crowns can last a long time. On average they last up to 10 years, but this is dependent on oral hygiene, diet, grinding, missing teeth, smoking, etc. Let us at James Island Dental Associates evaluate your oral health and any crown concerns you may have. Call our Charleston, SC dental office for more information on dental crowns.
