Same Day Dental Crowns Near Me: Fast and Convenient!

Dental crowns are commonly used to address dental issues like cracked teeth, gaps, crooked teeth, and discolouration. They can also be used to restore the appearance, function of front and back teeth and protect them from further damage. For severely damaged teeth, a root canal treatment may be necessary to restore the natural tooth.

In the past, getting dental crowns used to be a rather tedious and long process with an average waiting time of 2 weeks. Today, thanks to CEREC technology, you can get same day crowns or CEREC crowns, which means your dental crowns are designed and fitted on the same day. Let's explore how you can get a dental crown in just one day, without compromising on quality and esthetics.

How do Same Day Crowns work?

Dental crowns, also known as dental caps, are tooth-shaped covers placed over a prepared tooth to restore shape, size, strength and appearance. For missing teeth, dental implants can be used to support the dental crowns. Traditional crowns typically involve multiple appointments and a longer turnaround time.

In comparison, same day crowns use CEREC technology, which allows the dentist to create your crowns at a much accelerated rate compared to traditional dental crowns. CAD/CAM technology enables the production of same day dental crowns in a single visit. Albeit fast, dental crowns made with the help of CEREC are accurate, fit snugly to your tooth and are customised as the technology considers factors like your bite and how the new crown fits with your neighbouring teeth. 

Here’s how it works:

• After examining your teeth and gums, your dentist will confirm a crown will help with your condition. At Dental Designs, we take photos of your teeth and ensure all alternative options have been considered since dental crowns are irreversible.
• To prepare the crown and allow it to fit well, we would need to remove a layer of enamel from your tooth.
• Instead of traditional dental moulds which can be extremely uncomfortable, we use a 3D CEREC scanner to create a 3D model of your teeth. The images are then loaded onto a programme which allows us to start creating your crown immediately.
• Next, the CEREC machine creates your crown using strong, durable ceramic that matches the colour, shape and size of your neighbouring teeth. The impression is sent to our in-house dental laboratory and the permanent crown is custom-made. Crowns made with CEREC technology can be completed within a few hours, earning them the nickname "Same Day Crown." For traditional crowns however, this process can take up to two weeks.
• At this stage, the crown is ready to be bonded onto your tooth; but we add in quick final artistic touches to ensure your crown looks like a real tooth.
• After glazing your crown in a furnace, we proceed to place it onto your tooth.

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Caring for Your Same Day Dental Crown

• Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene: For the longevity of your same day crown, regular brushing and flossing helps keep the crowned tooth and surrounding teeth free from plaque and decay.

• Avoid Hard or Sticky Foods: It's advisable to avoid hard or sticky foods that could cause the crown to become loose or even dislodge it.

How are Same Day Crowns different from traditional dental crowns?

Time and convenience

A same-day crown procedure, as the name suggests, allows you to receive a new permanent crown in a single appointment. This offers a faster and more convenient alternative to traditional crown procedures. This is all possible thanks to the CEREC machine. Generally, the whole process takes about 4 hours.

Traditional dental crowns, on the other hand, require more preparation and time. When a patient chooses traditional crowns, temporary crowns are put in place to protect the teeth until the dental lab finishes creating the permanent crown. This can take about 2-3 weeks.

In addition, temporary crowns can be rather uncomfortable and tend to shift a little in your mouth. Since they are not shaped according to your mouth and teeth, they also tend to not fit properly and can cause food debris to get stuck underneath, increasing the likelihood of tooth decay.

Strength, material and aesthetics

Same day CEREC crowns are made exclusively from ceramic, while traditional crowns can be made from several materials, such as metal and porcelain-fused-to-metal. Some may argue that for oral health, traditional dental crowns are still stronger. Ceramic crowns have proven to be extremely strong! Studies have shown that with proper maintenance and care, ceramic crowns from CEREC have the potential to last equally long as traditional crowns and may last even longer.

Traditionally, dental crowns could be customised to match the colour and shape of your teeth. However, materials like metal crowns and porcelain-fused-to-metal are not as aesthetically pleasing as ceramic. As such, they might not be ideal if you are looking to get crowns on your front teeth.

Attention to detail

Same day crowns or CEREC crowns are aesthetically pleasing and natural-looking. If done by an experienced dentist with a good eye for detail, CEREC crowns can look as good or even better than traditional crowns. Same day crowns utilise CAD/CAM technology, which allows for digital impressions and precise milling of the crown on-site. At Dental Designs, we have our in-house dental lab to ensure full quality control and inspection. Therefore, this matches the standard and quality of a traditional crown made by an expert from an external dental laboratory.

The digital impressions used for same day crowns provide a high level of accuracy, ensuring a better fit. Physical moulds used for traditional crowns can sometimes lead to slight inaccuracies, requiring adjustments during the final placement.

Conclusion

So yes, it is possible to get a dental crown in a day without compromising on quality. If you’re interested in understanding more about dental crowns first, our article on how dental crowns work may help.

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