What are same day crowns?

Dental crowns refer to filling material designed and shaped to be capped over the structure left from a damaged or weakened natural tooth to help preserve the remaining structure, restore the tooth to full functionality, restore the aesthetics and prevent additional damage/decay.

Same day crowns make use of CAD/CAM technology that has been perfected over the last three decades and allow patients to receive a permanent crown in a single appointment. The technology and equipment makes it possible for dentists to prepare and place the crown without the need for taking manual impressions, placing a temporary crown, or making multiple visits to the dentist’s office.

With same day crowns, an oral camera provides 3D images of the tooth that are used to digitally design the crown. When the design is done, it only takes several minutes for a complex milling machine to fabricate the crown from a single block of ceramic.

Same day crowns offer several advantages, including:

• Time savings – permanent crown placement in a single visit
• Cost effective – the cost is comparable to lab-produced crowns and for many patients, less time off work means less opportunity cost
• Reduced risk of suffering further injury when the tooth is restored
• Resume normal diet and life in a day
• Precise digital impressions – the dentist uses a small oral camera for comfort/accuracy
• Natural appearance – the crown is made from tooth-coloured material
• Save more of your tooth – the dentist is able to preserve more of your tooth

Can you get the same shade as your teeth with same day crowns?

There are some aesthetic concerns when same day crowns are used to restore front teeth. Teeth generally contain different shades of colour, light refraction and slight irregularities. Your dentist can successfully create a very attractive look of natural teeth when using same day crowns by simply using specialised materials to paint on the required colours.

But when the teeth that need restoration are at the front of the mouth, and you are concerned about your smile, a lab-made crown may give you the most natural result. Also, a lab allows you to layer different colours of ceramic to get the look you want.

Who is the right candidate for same day crowns?

Dental crowns refer to the hard, protective tooth covering that restores the shape and strength of a tooth, while enhancing its appearance and functionality – for talking and eating, for example. Anyone with a broken tooth, severe decay, or aesthetic concerns can choose to get same day crowns.

Note that all patient cases are unique, and you should talk to your dentist to determine the best dental restoration option for you.