Introduction
Dental technology has experienced a remarkable transformation in recent years, and one of the most exciting advancements is the advent of Same Day Crowns. These modern restorations, crafted using state-of-the-art digital technology, allow patients to leave the dental office with a beautifully fitted crown after just one visit. This blog post will explore how Same Day Crowns work, the cutting-edge technology behind them, their many benefits, and what patients can expect from the procedure.
What Are Same Day Crowns?
Same-day crowns are custom-made dental caps designed to restore damaged, decayed, or aesthetically unappealing teeth in a single appointment. Unlike traditional crowns, which require messy impressions that often cause one to gag, provisional stainless-steel crowns, which frequently come off before your next appointment 2-3 weeks later, and the headaches of new impressions and further delays if the crown doesn’t fit when it comes back from the lab; Same-Day Crowns harness advanced computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems to design, mill, and fit a crown during the same visit.
At Twinbrook Dental Center, while your crown is being designed and fabricated, you are welcome to have a stress-relieving massage in our professional massage chair, watch TV or a movie, catch up on your emails and texts, surf the web, or enjoy a hot or cold refreshing beverage. If you prefer to just relax and nap in the chair, we also offer eye-massaging headsets that connect via Bluetooth to play music from your playlist or one of ours.
The Technology Behind Same Day Crowns
Advancements in digital dentistry have revolutionized the way dental restorations are produced. Here’s how the process typically works:
- Digital Scanning: Instead of relying on messy impression materials, a highly accurate digital scanner captures a three-dimensional image of the patient’s tooth. This scan ensures that every contour and nuance is recorded, setting the stage for an extremely precise restoration.
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD): The digital image is then processed by sophisticated CAD software, which enables the dental professional to design the crown with meticulous precision. Adjustments to the shape, size, and occlusion can be made in real time, ensuring a perfect fit.
- Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM): Once the design is finalized, the information is sent to an in-office milling machine. This machine rapidly carves a crown out of a block of ceramic or composite material, producing a restoration that is both durable and aesthetically pleasing.
This streamlined workflow not only shortens treatment time but also enhances precision, resulting in a crown that feels natural and functions seamlessly.