Same-Day Crowns: How Digital Technology Is Making Dental Restorations Faster

Crowns are one of the most common dental restorations. They offer an effective way to repair decaying or severely damaged teeth and may help prevent extractions.

Until recently, getting a crown involved several appointments, in-office impressions, and a waiting period for the restoration to be manufactured. However, digital technology has made the process easier and more convenient than ever.

At Family Dental Group, Nikhil Lavana, DMD, Archana Kharkanis-Lavana, DMD, and our team have embraced digital technology and offer same-day crowns. Read on to learn how dental crowns work, why digital treatment is so convenient, and what to expect during your procedure. 

An introduction to dental crowns

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap bonded on top of a damaged or severely decaying tooth. Once placed, the crown covers your entire tooth, restoring its size, strength, and appearance. 

Crowns are made from a variety of materials, but same-day crowns are typically ceramic or composite resin. These materials are quite durable and mimic the color of your natural tooth enamel, so they blend in with your surrounding teeth.

We regularly use crowns to treat:

• Severe tooth decay
• Cracked or fractured teeth
• Worn-down teeth

Sometimes, we use crowns to repair large, failing fillings or to support teeth following root canals.

Traditional crowns vs same-day treatment

Now that you know what a crown is, let’s explore the differences between traditional and same-day crown treatment:

Traditional crown treatment

Traditionally, getting a crown took at least two separate appointments spaced about a week apart.

If we determined you could benefit from a crown, we’d take impressions of your tooth using putty and then send them to a nearby dental lab. After taking the impressions, we’d cover your tooth with a temporary crown to prevent further damage.

About a week later, when your custom crown was finished, you’d return to our office, and we’d bond it in place.

Same-day crown treatment

Same-day crowns let us consolidate that entire process into a single visit. 

After completing a dental exam and digital X-rays, we use an advanced imaging system to take digital impressions of your teeth. Then, we upload those impressions to our on-site CEREC milling machine. 

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. The technology lets us design and manufacture high-quality dental crowns in about an hour. Specifically, the machine takes a block of ceramic and mills it into the exact shape needed to restore your damaged or decaying tooth.

Once your custom, same-day crown is ready, we bond it to your tooth, restoring its shape, size, and appearance. The entire process typically takes three hours or less and only one visit, so you can quickly return to your normal routine.

Benefits of same-day crowns

Same-day crowns offer several benefits, including:

• Convenience. Only one appointment is needed, so you don’t have to take a significant amount of time off work or from other responsibilities.
• Efficiency. Because you receive your crown the day it’s designed, a temporary crown isn’t necessary.
• Precision. The digital technology we use lets us create highly accurate restorations that fit comfortably and precisely. Many people need fewer adjustments as a result.
• Aesthetics. Same-day crowns look and feel natural, so no one will know you’ve had any work done.

If you have one tooth that needs a crown, this approach can save you time and restore your smile more quickly.

Ask us about getting a same-day crown

Have you been putting off getting a crown because you didn’t want to invest precious time and energy? If so, a same-day crown may be the perfect solution.

To see if you can benefit, call our nearest office in Gardner, Northborough, or Paxton, Massachusetts, or book online to schedule a new patient visit today.