When it comes to dental procedures, waiting weeks for a crown can be difficult. This is one of the main reasons why people are afraid of visiting a dentist. Luckily, recent advancements in cosmetic dentistry have made it easier for patients to receive instant treatments. One such advancement is same-day crowns.
If you are wondering how a one-day crown works or what the technology behind it is, this article is for you. Let’s explore the technology behind same-day crowns and how it can benefit patients.
What is a Crown?
Before moving on to one-day dental crowns, let us first understand what dental crowns are.
A dental crown is a type of dental restoration design to entirely cover a tooth and restore its natural look and function. A crown works by replacing the natural tooth covering, called enamel, with another material, including porcelain or gold.
To restore a tooth with a crown, your dentist first needs to prepare the tooth. This involves removing decay, previous dental work, and some outer enamel layers. This is do to create space for the replacement material.
What are Same-Day Crowns?
As the name suggests, same-day crowns are made by the dentist in the office while you wait. The preparation for a same-day crown is the same as for a traditional crown, but the procedure for application is different.
For instance, a certified dental lab technician in an off-site dental laboratory must prepare a traditional dental crown. This often requires you to visit the clinic at least twice. During the first visit, the dentist prepares the tooth, takes an impression of your tooth, sends this to the lab, and fits a temporary crown. At the second visit, usually occurring after 2-3 weeks, the dentist removes the temporary crown and fits the prepared crown using dental adhesive.
On the other hand, a same-day crown requires only a single visit to the dentist. The dentist designs and prepares the crown on the same day in the clinic.
What is the Technology Behind Same-Day Crowns?
A same-day crown is a modern dental restoration solution that provides you with the convenience of having your tooth restore in a single visit to the dentist’s office. This is made possible with the help of CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) technology. This technology allows the dentist to take accurate measurements of the patient’s teeth and gums.
Compared to the traditional crown, which uses dental impression material, CAD/CAM technology employs an intraoral scanner to create a 3D image of a patient’s mouth. In order to generate a virtual model and design a personalise crown for the patient, this digital scan is transfer into special software. Once this crown is final, the data is sent to an on-site milling machine, which prepares the crown from a block of ceramic material.
The entire process usually takes about an hour or two, allowing the patient to leave the clinic with their new crown securely fixed onto their tooth without any follow-up appointment.
Same-day crown technology plays an important role in dental advancements by providing effective and efficient solutions while prioritising patient satisfaction and comfort.
How are Same-Day Crowns Made?
While a traditional crown requires multiple visits and a long waiting time, a one-day crown is convenient and fast.
As mentioned above, the intra-oral scanner accurately measures a patient’s teeth and sends the measurement to a milling machine. This milling machine takes roughly 15-20 minutes to carve a permanent crown out of a ceramic block. This allows patients to receive their permanent crown on their very first visit rather than scheduling another appointment.
What are the Advantages of Same-Day Crowns?
Same-day crowns have gained huge popularity over traditional crowns due to their varied benefits, including:
Single Dental Visit Instead of Two
One of the biggest advantages of one-day dental crowns is the completion of the process in a single visit. Patients are usually afraid of visiting a dentist and do not want to spend more time in the dental chair. A same-day crown helps address this issue. Although the single visit may take longer, it is still shorter than the total length of a traditional crown procedure.
No Requirement for Temporary Crown
Temporary crowns are require to cover and protect the prepare tooth while the dental lab creates a permanent crown. As the name suggests, temporary crowns are not sturdy and are at greater risk of breaking or falling off. If a temporary crown falls off, you need to rush to your dentist immediately.
On the other hand, a same-day crown helps you avoid these additional visits to the clinic.
Takeaways
Same-day crowns have gained enormous popularity for their convenience. These provide a convenient, faster, and effective alternative to traditional crowns. With the help of CAD/CAM technology, intra-oral scanners, and milling machines, patients can receive customized dental restoration in a single visit.
Get Your Tooth Restored at University Ave Dental!
Whether you’re dealing with tooth decay or damage, our skilled dentists are here to guide you with the best treatment options and restore your tooth with a same-day crown at University Ave Dental.
Schedule an appointment with us today!
You can also contact us at (763)-784-1242.
Visit us at 10155, University Ave NE Suite #112, Blaine, MN 55434.