Should you choose same day or traditional dental crowns?

Before deciding which crowns are a good option for your particular needs, you must first understand the dental problems this restorative procedure solves. Your dentist may recommend a crown to repair severely broken teeth, preserving its natural structure and restoring full mouth function. This may also prevent subsequent problems, such as changes in your bite, as well as protect your teeth from further damage and the increasing risk of tooth loss or extraction.

If you have a decayed tooth with a hole that covers half its width, a crown can protect the vulnerable structure. Since dental crowns mimic the size, shape, and appearance of a natural tooth, it’s a great restorative solution for patients who experience tooth loss or have discolored, misshapen, or chipped enamel. Placing a crown may also be the final step in a root canal procedure, providing a structurally weaker tooth with optimal protection.

What’s the difference between same day and traditional dental crowns?

Perhaps the most glaring difference between same day and traditional crowns lies in the length of time required to complete the procedures. Normally, getting a traditional crown involves fitting two dental appointments into your hectic schedule. Your dentist will take X-rays during the first visit to see the condition of the tooth. If the damaged tooth is severely decayed, you may need a root canal treatment before getting a crown. Afterward, one of our expert dentists will file the tooth to make room for your new dental crown.

If you have a big part of your tooth missing or if a large filling falls out, we may need to use ceramic material to build the tooth first so it can support the crown effectively. Afterward, your dentist will use putty (a gooey, runny material) to take impressions of your reshaped tooth as well as the teeth above or below it. These impressions will be sent to an offsite lab that makes the crown from ceramic, resin, metal, or stainless materials. It can take some time for your crown to be ready, so as you wait, your dentist will place a temporary one to protect the area.

Once the lab sends back the completed crown, you’ll get the temporary one removed and the new crown will be placed on your reshaped tooth at your second dental appointment. Your dentist will also check that it’s not too “tall” such that it affects your bite and then they’ll smooth and shape the crown until it’s perfect.

The procedure for cleaning and fitting a same day crown is similar to that of the traditional type; the only difference lies in the creation of the dental crown itself. Your dentist will use special software to take detailed 3D pictures of your tooth, then they’ll use computer- aided manufacturing technology to carve a bespoke crown from a resin or ceramic block. Just like its name suggests, with the same day crown procedure, everything is done in a single appointment so there’s no need for temporaries.

What are the benefits of investing in same day crowns?

Most patients invest in same day crowns because of how convenient and fast getting one is. You can walk into your dentist with a damaged, decayed, or misshapen tooth and walk out an hour or two later with a tooth-colored, custom-fitted permanent crown.

Since same day crowns make temporary crowns unnecessary, you can skip over the potential injury and discomfort that may come with temporary restorations. The damaged tooth is also better protected from further damage as improperly fitted temporaries are often more vulnerable to bacteria.

Lastly, with same day crowns’ technology, you get to dodge dental putty. For most people, sitting with the runny, gooey material in their mouth may not be a comfortable experience. So if you can skip this step in the crown-making process, why not go for it?

Who is a good candidate for a same day crown?

Anyone who is a good candidate for a traditional crown may also qualify for same day crowns. The latter dental restoration is ideal for patients who have a busy schedule or experience dental anxiety and would like to not sit in the chair for very long.

Same day crowns may not be appropriate, though, for people who have damage or decay that extends below the gumline, as the technology used cannot fully capture images below gum tissue. If you need a restoration on a front tooth, you may also be better off going with a traditional crown.

Same day crowns may not meet the level of detail a dental technician can capture by hand, so the crown may not perfectly match your other teeth. Another reason a same day crown may not be right for you is if you have bruxism. Frequent jaw clenching and teeth grinding may chip, fracture, or break the ceramic restoration.

Have a chat with your dentist to decide whether same day or traditional dental crowns are right for you!

Regardless of your situation, you’ll need to schedule a consultation with a professional dentist to find out for sure which type of crown is best for your needs and aesthetic goals. We hope you’ll choose us — Tomasik Family Dental — as your dental home!