When you have a weak, broken, or severely decayed tooth, our Mesa, Arizona dentist will likely recommend a crown to protect it from breaking any further.
Standard Dental Crown Procedure
Typically, the dental crown process is performed as two separate visits. During the first appointment, we would take an initial impression of what your tooth looks like. Then we prep it for a crown by reducing its circumference to create room for the crown to fit properly. Once the tooth is the required diameter, we will then take a final impression of the tooth and send it to the dental laboratory where a technician will make your permanent crown. On average it takes about 2-3 weeks for the finished crown to return from the lab. In the meantime, you’ll wear a temporary cap to prevent any sensitivity. When you come in for your final visit, we’ll remove the preliminary crown and cement the final one on permanently.
But now there’s a more efficient alternative: same day dental crowns.
What Are Same-Day Dental Crowns?
These days, some dental practices are equipped with the latest technology in crown treatments that allows dentists to make a crown in the office on the same day. This means that there’s no need for you to come back for a second visit, or wear a temporary crown for weeks at a time. Rather than having two separate visits that total about two hours, you can expect to have your same-day crown in one trip to our office.
Same-day crowns use 3D imaging and CAD/CAM technology to craft a custom crown while you wait. It’s similar to 3D printing, but instead of printing a crown, it’s carved from a solid block of ceramic to precisely fit your tooth. Their digital accuracy ensures a great fit while reducing the amount of time you spend in the dentist’s office.
What Is The Same Day Dental Crown Process?
With same-day crowns, no impressions are needed. Once your tooth is numb, we’ll immediately begin by prepping your enamel. Once that step is complete, we’ll use a 3D scanner to take a digital “impression” of your teeth. The scanner consists of an intraoral wand that is attached to a computer. After the image is compiled, you’ll be free to relax in the treatment room while we manufacture your new “cap”. This process will take about 30 – 45 minutes to complete.
The scanner comes with a highly advanced dental software that we use to design a custom ceramic crown for your tooth. The computer sends the data to the milling machine, which will cut your crown out of a solid block of ceramic.
There are different shades of ceramic to choose from, so our dentist will decide which one is best for your smile’s color. Certain colors of teeth and ceramics work better for front or back teeth, depending on the individual.
Once the crown is milled, we’ll perform a final polish on it and it will be ready to bond to your tooth. Since we use a digital impression method (which is a highly accurate replica of your tooth) the majority of these caps fit perfectly with no need for adjustments. This isn’t always the case with traditional crowns that are manufactured in an off-site lab. Since the standard crown is based off of a putty impression, it can result in a discrepancies that impact how the final crown fits on the tooth.
But regardless of how your crown is made, we’ll check to make sure that the contacts between your crown and adjacent teeth are the perfect amount of tightness, and that the bite is aligned properly throughout your entire mouth. We may even take an x-ray to confirm that the margins cover your tooth completely as they ought to.
Once we feel confident that the crown fits properly, we’ll bond it in place with a strong permanent cement. The final step is to remove any excess cement from around the gumline. Then you’ll be on your way to enjoy the rest of your day and not have to worry about coming back for another appointment a few weeks later (or avoiding certain foods because of the risk of pulling a temporary crown off.)
Same-Day Crowns in Mesa, Arizona
If you’re like most busy people and don’t have time to waste, then come to Eastport Dental of Mesa, AZ for your quick and easy same-day crown. You’ll be back to your normal schedule in no time.
