Dental crowns are one of the most common restorative dental processes used when a tooth is damaged or decayed.
Traditional crown placement involves the dentist taking an impression of the affected tooth and sending it off to a dental lab to make the crown. This process usually takes two to three weeks, but some dentists offer same-day crowns so patients can avoid the wait.
Same-Day Crown Placement
Same-day crowns are made right in your dentist's office with the help of a machine that uses CAD (computer-assisted design) and CAM (computer-assisted manufacturing).
First, your tooth has to be prepped with a deep cleaning. If the decay goes deep inside the tooth, you may need a root canal before you can have a crown placed. Once your tooth is ready, your dentist will take a digital impression of your teeth using a special camera that can take 3D images. Using the digital impression, your dentist will design your crown to match the size, shape, and color of your surrounding teeth.
The fully-designed crown is sent to the milling machine, which uses technology similar to 3D printers to make the crown out of medical-grade ceramic. Most same-day crown machines take less than 30 minutes to print a crown. After the crown is printed, your dentist will bond it to your tooth and do any final shaping and polishing to ensure the crown is comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.
Advantages of Same-Day Crowns
Same-day crowns save time and can help preserve more of your tooth since you won't need to wait for a permanent crown after your tooth is prepped for crown placement. Getting a traditional crown usually requires the dentist to place a temporary crown while the permanent one is being made. These temporary crowns are prone to breaking and falling out.
Most same-day crowns aren't more expensive than traditional ceramic crowns, and the same-day process can actually save money since only one office visit fee is needed.
Care of Same-Day Crowns
After you have a same-day crown placed, your gums and surrounding teeth might feel a little sore for a day or two after the anesthetic wears off and your mouth is no longer numb. Caring for same-day crowns is as simple as caring for traditional crowns — just treat the crown like a natural tooth. Brush and floss at least twice a day to keep your natural teeth and your crown in good shape.
Complications are rare, but if you feel prolonged pain or sensitivity, make an appointment with your dentist to make sure your new crown isn't causing issues.
