A dental crown is a restorative procedure for a tooth that has extensive decay or damage. When there is not enough tooth material left for a filling, a crown can be placed over the tooth to protect the remaining tooth and root.
Do you have a tooth that needs a crown? If so, you may be wondering how long it takes to get a dental crown.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cover that is placed over a damaged tooth. It can be made of porcelain to resemble natural tooth enamel, or metal depending on your preferences. The existing tooth is reduced in size to make room for the crown to fit over the top. It is a permanent restoration that stays in place only to be removed by your dentist. The natural root of the tooth stays in place for support, allowing you to eat and clean your teeth normally.
Average Time Frame for Crown Placement
The traditional crown process can take a few weeks. You will need one appointment to prepare the tooth and make impressions to create your crown, then another appointment to place the permanent crown over the tooth.
Same day crowns can be placed in a single appointment in most cases. With CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) technology, your crown can be created using a machine in your dentist’s office. This makes it possible for the entire process to be completed in one day. Your tooth is prepped, impressions are made, your crown is created while you wait, and then it is permanently placed. If it doesn’t fit, adjustments can be made immediately so your crown can still be placed that day.
Benefits of Same Day Crowns
Same Day Crowns offer many benefits for tooth restoration:
- Save time. Getting a same day crown saves you time. You won’t have to make multiple trips to your dentist’s office to complete the process.
- Comparable cost. The cost of a same day crown is comparable to the cost of a traditional crown.
- Natural look. A porcelain crown made by CEREC technology looks very natural. It is made to match your teeth in color, shape, and size.
- High quality. A CEREC same day crown is made of high quality porcelain that is strong enough to withstand the force of chewing.
- Convenient. With same day crowns there’s no need for an inconvenient temporary crown. No eating restrictions and no risk of the temporary crown coming off.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Crowns
Is a crown worth it or should I just have the tooth pulled?
It is always best to restore a tooth if possible, rather than extract it. Saving a tooth with a crown allows it to look and function like a natural tooth. A missing tooth can cause the other teeth to shift out of place, and replacing the entire tooth will cost more.
Are same day crowns just as good as traditional crowns?
CEREC same day crowns are high quality dental prosthetics. They look and function just like a crown made in a distant lab, except it is made right here. The lab is in our office.
Why Choose Barkoff Dental?
At Barkoff Dental our top priority is our patients. We strive to make your experience as comfortable and convenient as possible, which is why we adopted CEREC technology in our office. The ability to create high quality, natural looking crowns in a matter of minutes is a perfect example of dental technology at work.
To learn more, call 516-921-1133 or contact us today to schedule an appointment.