Dental crowns are one of the most commonly performed procedure in modern dentistry. Approximately 2.3 million crowns are made annually. The process usually requires at least two dentist visits, with anesthesia injection at each visit, and at least 2-3 weeks waiting time is required for the crown fabrication.
Before your dental treatment, it is beneficial to know the differences between same-day crown, a.k.a. one-day crown or CEREC crown, and traditional crowns in terms of cost, quality and treatment process. If you are not sure about the best treatment option for you, this article will help you understand pros and cons of each treatment options; same day CEREC crowns vs traditional PFM or all ceramic crowns.
Same day crown technology has been evolved since 1985, and now every procedure is done in just a single dental appointment from tooth preparation to delivery of the final crown, so there is no need for any waiting time and any temporary crowns. Same day CEREC crowns utilize an optical camera scanning device and a computer calculates digital image using software to design the crown with CADCAM technology to minimize human errors during crown fabrication. Dentist designs a 3-dimensional digital image of your crown with precise measurements of an replicated digital image of your teeth. Once the crown design process is done in the computer, the milling machine fabricate a precise ceramic crown in about 10 minutes.
What is the same day crown treatment process?
For same-day crown, or one-day crown, on your teeth, you only need a single dentist appointment. Quick intraoral optical scanning will be done for CAD ( computer-aided design ) to create a 3 dimensional digital image of your tooth.
A digital model of your mouth will be created to fabricate your crown using a CEREC machine at the dentist office. When CEREC crown fabrication is done, your dentist will glue the new crown on prepared tooth. The processing time is just about an hour and half.
The process for getting traditional crowns on your teeth usually takes two visits. Your dentist will make an impression of your tooth for a model that a lab technician will use to fabricate a traditional crown. You need to keep a temporary crown to protect your tooth until the laboratory returns your permanent crown within 2-3 weeks. At second visit, after removing the temporary crown, the permanent crown will be placed.
Advantages of Same Day crowns
- Convenience, just one visit procedure.
- No need for a temporary crown
- No 2 weeks waiting for the permanent crown from a lab.
- Comfort, no impression and less injection
- Better prognosis
Downsides of Same Day Crowns
- Less strong than full metal crown
- Less esthetic than the hand build crown from master technician.
National Average Cost of Same Day Crowns
Crown fees range from $1475 to $1775 whether you get a same day dental crown or a lab fabricated traditional crown. The fee range depends on the materials used to fabricate the crown.
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Same Day Crowns (One Day Crown) vs Traditional Crowns: Which one should I have?
You need to choose the right type of crown for you based on your convenience, comfort, quality and cost.
If you prefer a convenient and quicker option with a good cosmetic result, same day crowns will be better choice for you. Traditional crowns are good if you are okay with waiting time and two dentist visits and more focused on more detailed anatomy for the better esthetic outcome.
However, Same Day Crowns are usually the better option because of convenience, good cosmetic outcome and prevention of unnecessary tooth damage from temporary crowns.
Your dentist can help you make the best choice of crown for your preference.
Call us at 617-250-8545 to set up a free consultation.