Traditional Crowns vs. Same-Day Crowns: Which One Trumps the Other?

Do you have chipped, fractured, or cracked teeth? Then, you must know the issues that can stem from such dental problems, such as tooth sensitivity, low self-esteem, and tooth loss. One of the standard methods of dealing with such issues is using dental crowns.

This is a fairly standard procedure, and there are 15 million Americans who know first-hand the benefits of undergoing this procedure.

With the recent technological advancements, this procedure is becoming more popular by the day. Now, you have options. You can choose to go for a traditional crown or get your teeth revamped in one visit using same-day CEREC crowns.

The Fundamental Basics of Each Crown

Typically, dental crowns are dental prostheses that our dentist uses to repair damaged teeth and restore them to their original shape, color, size, and function. Ideally, they are used to cover the entire tooth and restore the tooth’s outer look, hence the name crown or cap.

However, you need to know what sets these different types of crowns apart for you to get a clearer picture.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Traditional Crown Procedure

Once you have decided to get a crown, our dentist will begin by preparing your tooth. This will involve taking X-rays. Also, the mold of your teeth has to be taken. Our dentist will then remove the damaged parts of your teeth by filing down part of the enamel (hard outer covering).

Then, an impression of the filed down tooth will be taken. After this, you will be fitted with a temporary crown to protect the vulnerable tooth. The impressions will be sent to a lab, and you will have to wait for several weeks before you receive your crown.

The traditional crowns are typically fashioned from different materials, including metal, zirconia, ceramic, porcelain, a combination of materials, and composite resin.

• Same-Day Crowns Procedure

With same-day crowns, your teeth also have to be prepped, which means that the damaged or decayed part of your teeth will be filed down. Then, a 3D camera will be used to take images of your teeth to obtain your teeth’s digital impressions. These digital impressions are much more comfortable as compared to traditional crown impressions.

The digital impressions will be uploaded to a computer. After this, our dentist will use a CAD (computer-aided design) and a CAM (computerized manufacturing) to create porcelain crowns. You can wait in the lounge while your crowns are being fashioned. The process is typically over within an hour.

Traditional Crowns vs. Same-Day Crowns

Since same-day crowns offer the convenience of altering your smile within a single visit, you also need to contrast its other attributes with traditional crowns. This is important since it will help you make a reasonable decision.

Without further ado, let’s see some of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of crown.

• Time

As you already know, traditional crowns will take much longer than same-day crowns to be created. The typical process will take at least two dental appointments before you get your teeth restored.

However, with same-day crowns, your crowns are fabricated while you wait in the lounge and are fitted within the same dental visit. Typically, you can expect the process to be over within an hour or so.

• Materials and Sturdiness

Traditional crowns are fashioned from various materials, including ceramic, metal, porcelain, and a combination of materials. The crowns, which are a combination of ceramic and metal, are durable. This is because the metal is known to integrate well with the sensitive part of your teeth, the dentin. Therefore, making traditional crowns stronger than same-day crowns.

On the other hand, same-day CEREC crowns are fashioned from ceramic. This makes them aesthetically pleasing but not as sturdy as the crowns made from metal or porcelain fused with metal.

• Impressions and Temporary Crowns

When getting traditional crowns, our dentist has to take a dental impression of your teeth to ensure that you receive a perfectly fitting crown. Taking the impression is not an enjoyable process. After the impressions are taken, you will need to go home with a temporary crown.

However, with same-day CEREC crowns, the impressions taken are 3D, and there is no need for temporary crowns.

If you need more information about same-day dental crowns, contact our dentist at daily Dental and bracesbar for a consultation.