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| Now Accepting New Patients |
Same Day Crowns
Covington, WA
A chipped molar or a dental crown that cracks rarely waits for a convenient moment. For patients at Covington Family Dental restoring a damaged tooth used to mean scheduling two separate appointments, often weeks apart, with a temporary crown holding things together in between. That temporary dental restoration could feel bulky, come loose, or leave the tooth sensitive to hot and cold while the permanent crown was being made in an outside laboratory. Advances in digital dentistry have changed that process considerably. Same-day crowns now allow many patients to arrive with a damaged tooth in the morning and leave with a finished, permanent restoration already in place, often within a few hours. What Are Same-Day Crowns?Same-day crowns are custom dental restorations that are designed, fabricated, and placed during a single office visit using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing technology, commonly referred to as CAD/CAM. Rather than sending a physical impression to an outside dental laboratory and waiting one to two weeks for the finished crown to be returned, the entire process takes place within the dental office, often completed in two to three hours. Because the entire workflow happens on-site, the digital files used to design the crown can be saved and referenced for future visits. This can be useful if a patient ever needs a replacement crown down the road, since the original measurements and design are already on file rather than starting from scratch. ProcessThe appointment begins much like a traditional crown procedure. Any decay or damaged tooth structure is removed, and the remaining tooth is reshaped to provide a stable foundation for the new crown. Instead of a traditional impression made with putty trays, a small handheld scanner captures a detailed digital image of the prepared tooth, the bite, and the surrounding teeth. Many patients find this scanning step more comfortable than a conventional impression, since there is no tray or impression material to bite down on while it sets. That digital scan is sent to design software, where the crown is mapped out as a precise 3D model, matching the contours, height, and bite alignment of the surrounding teeth. Once the design is approved, an in-office milling unit carves the crown from a solid block of dental ceramic. The milled crown is then refined, polished, and checked for fit before being bonded permanently to the tooth, all within the same visit. MaterialsSame-day crowns are most often milled from solid blocks of lithium disilicate, a glass ceramic material known for its strength and its ability to mimic the natural translucency of tooth enamel. This helps the finished crown blend closely with the surrounding teeth in both color and texture. For molars that handle heavier chewing forces, zirconia blocks are sometimes used instead, offering additional durability. The milling blocks come in a range of shades, allowing the crown to be matched to the patient's natural tooth color before it is placed. LifespanWith consistent oral hygiene and routine dental checkups, same-day crowns can last as long as traditionally fabricated crowns, often in the range of 10 to 15 years or longer. How long a crown lasts depends on factors such as its location in the mouth, the forces it experiences during chewing, and whether a patient grinds or clenches their teeth at night. Regular dental visits allow any wear, chips, or fit issues to be caught early, helping the restoration stay functional for as long as possible. Patients who grind their teeth may also benefit from a nightguard, which can reduce the pressure placed on the crown and the surrounding teeth over time. Same-Day Crowns vs Standard CrownsThe most noticeable difference between same-day crowns and standard crowns is the timeline. Standard crowns require an outside dental laboratory to fabricate the restoration, a process that typically takes one to two weeks. During that time, patients wear a temporary crown made of acrylic or composite material, which can feel less secure and may require some adjustments to eating habits. Same-day crowns remove this waiting period and the temporary restoration entirely, since the permanent crown is designed and milled while the patient is still in the office. Despite these differences, the two approaches share several similarities. Both are custom-made to fit the prepared tooth precisely, both can be crafted from durable ceramic materials, and both are designed to restore the tooth's shape, function, and appearance. The decision between a same-day crown and a laboratory-fabricated crown often comes down to the specific tooth being restored, the complexity of the case, and a patient's scheduling needs, all of which Kyle S. Blair, DDS can review during an evaluation. When Are Same-Day Crowns Beneficial?Same-day crowns offer practical advantages in a number of situations. For patients with busy schedules, completing treatment in a single visit can be considerably more convenient than returning for a second appointment several weeks later. Same-day treatment can also be helpful when a tooth has fractured unexpectedly or a large filling has failed and needs prompt protection, since the tooth receives its final restoration right away rather than relying on a temporary crown in the interim. Same-day crowns may be a good fit for patients who:
That said, not every situation calls for a same-day crown. Cases involving extensive bone loss, multiple adjacent restorations, or certain bite adjustments may benefit from the additional planning time a laboratory-made crown allows. Our team can evaluate the condition of the tooth and recommend the option that best fits the overall treatment plan. Plan Your Same-Day Crown Visit
Patients in Covington who are dealing with a cracked, worn, or failing tooth are welcome to ask Covington Family Dental about same-day crown options at their next appointment. Our team can examine the tooth in question and determine whether a same-day restoration is a good match for the situation. To schedule a visit, call (253) 499-6155 or reach out through our website. |
