Dental crowns are commonly used to address dental issues like cracked teeth, gaps, crooked teeth, and discoloration. They can also be used to restore the appearance, function of front teeth and protect it from further damage. In the past, getting dental crowns used to be a rather tedious and complicated process with an average waiting time of 2 weeks. For severely damaged teeth, a root canal treatment may be necessary to restore the natural tooth.
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.
Dental crowns, also known as dental caps, are tooth-shaped covers placed over a prepared tooth to restore shape, size, strength and appearance. Dental implants can be used to support dental crowns for missing natural teeth. 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 more accurate and personalised as the technology considers factors like your bite and how the new crown fits with your neighbouring teeth.
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.
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.
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 as well! 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, porcelain crowns could be customized to match the color and shape of your teeth. However, materials like metal crowns and porcelain-fused-to-metal are unfortunately not as aesthetically pleasing as ceramic. As such, they might not be ideal if you are looking to get crowns on your front teeth.
Same day crowns or CEREC crowns are extremely 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.
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.