Same-Day Dental Crowns Available in Huntersville, NC

A dental crown, often called a cap, is a fixed restoration that fits over the entire visible portion of a tooth to protect it. Crowns can be crafted from porcelain or metal, and porcelain tends to be the more popular choice since it blends in with the look of natural enamel. When a tooth has decay or damage that goes beyond what a filling can repair, a crown is typically the next option, and a crown is also commonly placed after a tooth has had root canal therapy.

As the name implies, a same day crown can typically be completed and placed during a single office visit, although depending on your appointment time, placement may happen the next day instead. Either way, this approach can help you skip the 2 to 3 week wait that traditional crowns often involve for steps like impressions and lab fabrication, since the crown is milled right in the office rather than sent out to an outside lab.

Choosing a same day crown can offer several advantages, including:

• Less time in the chair. Fewer trips back and forth to the office typically means less time away from work or school, and you are not left waiting weeks for your permanent crown.
• Lower overall cost. Same day crowns can help reduce costs in several ways, such as less driving back and forth, fewer appointments to schedule around, and no separate charge for a temporary crown. In many cases, a crown also costs less than replacing a tooth with a bridge or an implant.

• Preservation of your natural tooth. One of the main advantages of any crown is that your natural tooth structure and root can typically remain in your mouth, allowing it to look and function much like the rest of your natural teeth.

A typical same day crown visit generally includes the following steps:

1. Digital scanning. Digital images are captured of the tooth being treated along with the neighboring teeth, and these images guide the design of a crown that fits accurately and looks natural.

2. Tooth preparation. Any decay is cleared away and a portion of the enamel is trimmed down to leave enough space for the crown.

3. Final measurements. A second set of impressions is captured so the crown can be sized with precision.

4. On-site fabrication. Using those measurements, the crown is milled right in our in-office lab.

5. Placement and fit check. The finished crown is tried in place. When the fit looks right, it is cemented permanently, and if any adjustment is needed, our team refines it on the spot until it feels comfortable and natural.

The requirements for a same day crown generally mirror those for a traditional crown. The tooth in question should genuinely need a crown, and a crown should be a suitable restorative option for that tooth. If a root canal is also needed, that treatment is typically completed before the crown is placed.

Same day crowns are not offered at every dental practice, since the process depends on having CEREC same day restoration technology in house. The Smile Architects has invested in this technology so patients can typically save both time and money on crown treatment. Because an outside laboratory is no longer part of the process, we are able to keep the overall cost lower for our patients.