Crowns are dental restorations designed for teeth that cannot be repaired by a simple filling, and to protect teeth that have undergone root canal procedures. Crowns are custom-made restorations that cover the entire surface of the affected tooth, right down to the gum line. Crowns are nothing new in dentistry – in fact, they have used by dentists for many decades. But there is something new regarding this dental procedure – same-day crowns!
Over the past few years, more and more dental offices have utilized a new technology called CEREC® (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics). Thanks to CEREC®, the dentist is able to use CAD (computer-aided design) and CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) to create a crown right in the dentist office, while the patient waits.
Before we discuss all the advantages of same-day crowns, let’s review what it was like to be fitted with a traditional crown. It always involved two trips to the dentist office. During the first trip, the dentist would make an impression of the affected tooth. This would involve a somewhat messy material being applied on the patient’s tooth, and the patient having to sit for a period of time while the impression hardened. That impression would then be sent to a dental lab, where the permanent crown would be created – a process that usually required about two weeks to complete. After making an impression of the tooth during the first visit, the dentist would then remove any existing decay and fit the patient with a temporary crown that would need to be worn while the permanent crown was created by an outside dental lab. This whole process would require at least two trips to the dentist office and about two weeks.
But thanks to CEREC®, all that has changed. Many dentists can now provide same-day crowns to their patients. The process begins with your dentist taking digital images of the affected tooth – no more messy impressions necessary! Those digital images are then used to create your new permanent crown right there in the dentist’s office. In the meantime, while your new crown is being made, your dentist will prepare your tooth by removing any existing decay and thoroughly cleaning and sealing off the affected tooth. Then, just a short time later, you’ll be fitted with your new crown and sent on your way – all in a single visit to your dentist office.
CEREC® same-day crowns are not only just as attractive and durable as “old-fashioned” crowns created by a dental lab, they also cost just about the same as traditional crowns. Considering the time saved, the need for just a single visit to the dentist, the quality of the crown, and the cost being the same, isn’t it time you asked your dentist about same-day crowns?
