If you have ever needed a dental crown before, you may remember a process that involved messy impressions, a temporary crown, and another appointment a few weeks later to place the finished restoration. With a same-day CEREC crown, things work a little differently. The technology allows us to scan your tooth, design your restoration, create it right here in our office, and place it during the same appointment.
That sounds convenient, of course, but what does the experience actually look like when you are the one sitting in the chair? Here is a peek behind the scenes.
First, We Get Your Tooth Ready
Before we begin, we will examine your tooth and make sure a crown is the right treatment for you. We want you to understand what we are doing and why, so there is always time to talk through your options and ask questions. Once it is time to begin, we prepare the tooth by removing damaged or weakened areas and carefully shaping it so your new crown can fit securely over it.
This part of the process is similar to what happens with a traditional crown. What comes next is where your appointment starts to look quite different.
No Tray of Impression Material Needed
Instead of placing traditional impression material in your mouth and waiting for it to set, we use digital scanning technology to capture the information we need. The scanner creates a detailed digital representation of your teeth that we can use to plan your restoration.
For you, that means no biting into a tray of impression material and no waiting for an impression to be sent to an outside dental lab. Everything we need to move forward is already right here.
Your Crown Takes Shape on a Screen
This is one of the most interesting parts of the process. Using the information gathered from your digital scan, we design your crown with your individual smile in mind. We consider the size and shape of the tooth as well as how the restoration will fit alongside the teeth around it.
A crown has an important job to do. It needs to protect and restore your tooth, but it also needs to feel like it belongs in your mouth. The digital design process gives us an opportunity to carefully plan both.
Then, Your Crown Is Created Right Here
Once the design is ready, your restoration can be created in our office. You do not need to leave with a temporary crown while another lab makes the permanent one. Instead, your crown is made while you are still with us. For many patients, this is the part that makes the whole experience surprisingly simple. What would traditionally be spread across multiple appointments can often be completed in a single day.
Before It Goes In, We Check the Details
Same-day does not mean rushed. Before your crown is permanently placed, we check how it fits and how it looks. We also pay close attention to your bite.
Your teeth need to come together comfortably when you chew and speak, so this step matters. If something needs a little adjustment, we can fine-tune the restoration before it is placed. We want your crown to look natural, but just as importantly, we want it to feel natural when you use your teeth.
Your Finished Crown Is Placed
Once we are happy with the fit, bite, and appearance, the crown is securely placed over your prepared tooth. And that is it. You leave the office with your finished restoration already in place.
There is no temporary crown to protect for the next few weeks and no second appointment to have the permanent crown placed. You can move on with your day knowing that the tooth has already been restored.
A Different Kind of Crown Appointment
Dental technology is most valuable when it improves your care and makes your experience easier. For us, that is what makes same-day CEREC crowns so useful. The digital technology happens behind the scenes, but what you experience is a streamlined appointment with fewer steps, no traditional impressions, and no waiting weeks for your finished restoration.
If you have a damaged or weakened tooth and think you may need a crown, we would be happy to take a look and talk about your options. Schedule an appointment with our offices located in Solana Beach or Poway, CA, and let’s find the right way to get your smile back to feeling like itself.
