Despite the narratives out there, it’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to technology. After all, cutting-edge innovation has made same-day dental crowns not only a possibility, but a common practice in dentist’s offices across the globe! If you’re unfamiliar with this new type of restoration, continue reading to learn some fascinating tidbits.
The Reason for the Name
Same-day crowns earned their moniker because with the right in-house technology, a dentist can create and place a restoration in a single visit to their office.
Here’s how it works with traditional (not same-day) crowns:
- You go to the dentist one day because you have a chipped tooth or a toothache or what have you. The dentist takes X-rays, evaluates you, and decides you need a crown to restore your tooth.
- They then set about reshaping the affected tooth to accommodate the crown. Your dentist (or a member of their staff) removes any decay and files your tooth down. Once that’s done, either digital impressions or molds of the tooth are taken and sent to a lab that manufactures the crown. Finally, a temporary crown is placed to protect your tooth while the permanent one is being made.
- Once the permanent crown is finished after a week or 2, you return to your dentist’s office for final restoration placement.
So, how does your dentist eliminate all the waiting and multiple visits and do a crown in one day?
What Makes Same-Day Crowns Possible
In a nutshell, it comes down to CAD/CAM technology. CAD stands for computer-aided design, while CAM is an acronym for computer-aided manufacturing.
With the right in-house hardware and software, the staff can take those digital impressions and rather than send them off to a dental lab, use computer software to design a custom crown and then manufacture it with a milling machine. This machine basically carves the crown from a block of ceramic, and the restoration is then placed.
No sending off impressions and waiting for the crown to be made and sent back, and no need for a temporary crown placement. You walk into the office with a broken tooth; you walk out the same day with a restoration.
Are Same-Day and CEREC Crowns the Same Thing?
Yes! CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, which is a fancy way of saying crowns that are made and placed economically in-office.
Most dental offices that feature CEREC crowns can complete the entire visit from start to finish in about 2 hours.
Other Interesting Facts of Note
No “Metal Mouth”
As many dentists have moved away from the gold and silver crowns of yesteryear and towards other materials, you don’t have to worry about highly visible restorations with same-day crowns. Your dentist can match your new crown color to your existing enamel, so it blends in seamlessly with the rest of your smile.
Same-Day Crowns Won’t Break the Bank
It wouldn’t be a foolish assumption to believe that new technology equals higher prices. But by eliminating the need for the placement of a temporary crown and the help of an outside lab to make the final product, CEREC restorations don’t necessarily hit you any harder in the wallet.
Plus, there’s the time you save by not taking off work to attend multiple appointments, not to mention forking over extra money to foot the insurance co-pay for every office visit.
Same-day crowns are a monumental breakthrough in dental practice. If you’re interested in a restoration of your own, book a consultation with your dentist to discuss options!
About the Author
Dr. Kelsey Hill was the valedictorian of her graduating class at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. To stay at the forefront of advances in her field, she averages 100 hours of continuing education credits per year and is an active member of the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics. Contact our team online if Hill Dental Wellness can help you or call our Falmouth office at (207) 797-3130.