The short answer is yes, crowns can be done on the same day. The longer answer requires an understanding of the difference between crowns milled in-office or by a dental lab outside of the office. A dental crown is a prosthetic, a false body part. Dental prosthetics technology has improved the nature of crowns, implants, dentures, and bridges. Furthermore, the wait time is now much less than it used to be! Crowns offer protection to teeth by reinforcing teeth that have lost significant natural tooth structure via decay or fractures.
Can Crowns Be Done on the Same Day?
Same-Day Crown
A same-day crown can be made and installed in a single visit to the dentist. This is because the crowns are made using Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC). This durable and natural-looking porcelain material allows CEREC crowns to be custom milled in the dentist’s office. They are made of the SAME material that dental labs use and match the adjacent teeth just as well!
Lab-created Crown
If a dentist does not own a CEREC/dental mill, then they must make an impression of the tooth after the crown shaping appointment. The patient is fit for a temporary for a few weeks while the impression is sent to a laboratory, then they return for a seating appointment to glue the crown onto the tooth. If the patient prefers a gold or metal crown, those must be sent to the lab. Porcelain/all-white crowns are the only type of crown able to be fabricated by an in-office mill. Labs are also able to fabricate all-ceramic
Comparison
When you and your family dental professional are discussing your options, the only comparison that can be made between the two types of crowns: TIME. An in-office mill requires one appointment, albeit slightly longer, it does not involve a second visit to glue it on (no second shots to numb!).
Appearance
Most crowns are made from lithium disilicate (e.max) or zirconia. Both are completely white and do not contain any metal. These can both be made with in-office milling such as CEREC. Using computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing, the dentist will fine-tune the appearance of the same-day crown to resemble a natural surface. Next, they will color it to match the rest of your teeth.
Crowns made from porcelain-fused-to-metal will blend in with the rest of your teeth. Crowns made from metals will not appear natural, unfortunately. Although the porcelain fused to metal will look natural, the metal they contain can react negatively with gum tissue, causing discoloration or graying around the tooth that has been treated.
As these crowns start to chip, the metal underneath is revealed as will be any gum recession.
Comfort and Fit
Lab-made crowns rely on molded impressions to create the crown. However, molded impressions can be prone to mistakes made by dental technicians. In fact, the crowns can be distorted if there is too much saliva in the mouth at the time of making the impression. Consequently, the crown may not fit comfortably and the process to resolve the problem will require follow-up appointments. In some cases, you may even need to start the process from the beginning again.
Same-day dental crowns draw on the efficiency and accuracy of CAD/CAM technology to achieve the correct fit. The design technology will take a three-dimensional digital impression of your teeth to produce the crown. The crown is then sculpted in the hands of the dentist to enhance accuracy and comfort.
Durability and Strength
Lab-created metal-based crowns are durable and strong. The porcelain fused to metal is also strong but can break, chip or wear out, or erode the opposite teeth. Conversely, same-day crowns can last well over a decade with the correct care and maintenance.
Cost
Same-day crowns cost less simply because there are fewer appointments involved. That means fewer co-pays out of your pocket. Smile!
All Smiles Family Dentistry in Omaha, NE
At All Smiles Family Dentistry, we are proud to provide high-quality care to all our patients both young and old thanks to our compassionate and experienced dental team. We offer a clean and comfortable clinic to help you feel relaxed during your visit. Contact All Smiles Family Dentist.