How Long Does It Take to Get a Traditional Crown?
Getting a traditional dental crown could take up to weeks because they’re crafted off-site at a high-tech laboratory. For many patients, this process requires taking time off work and tailoring their schedule to their dental needs, and that’s not always doable. Fortunately, a new, more streamlined and efficient alternative to this process has emerged thanks to the development of cutting-edge dental technology, called CEREC. It stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, and it allows your dentist to complete the entire dental crown process in a single appointment, but you’re probably wondering just how long this visit will take!
How Long Does It Take to Get a Traditional Crown?
Traditional crowns can take anywhere from two to three weeks to craft and place. Typically, the process includes the preparation of your affected tooth, capturing a detailed impression, constructing a model that your dentist can send to the laboratory, and waiting to have them craft the restoration. Then, you’ll be required to come back in to have your temporary crown removed and your permanent one placed. However, if the crown doesn’t come back to your dentist meeting their specifications, they may need to send it back to be altered or re-made, which could make the process longer.
How Long Does It Take to Get a CEREC Crown?
The CEREC process can be completed in a single appointment that lasts about two hours. Instead of taking putty impressions, your dentist will use a digital imaging device that will craft a 3D blueprint of your tooth in a matter of moments. Your dentist will then be ready to prepare your affected tooth.
Once the digital impression is created, your dentist sends it to a chairside milling device that’s loaded with a block of dental porcelain that’s an identical shade to your natural enamel. Within a matter of minutes, it will craft a perfectly fitted crown that your dentist can then place over your prepared tooth to provide it with lasting protection and support.
Is There a Difference in Quality Between Traditional & CEREC Crowns?
There is virtually no difference in the quality of traditional and CEREC crowns. The dental porcelain that your CEREC restoration will be crafted from is durable, natural-looking, and oftentimes the same material that traditional crowns are made from.
The primary differences between the two methods is that CEREC technology allows dentists to eliminate the need for temporary crowns as well as allows them to craft the restoration based on their specific impressions and measurements since the information doesn’t have to travel through multiple hands. Not to mention, it’s often the more cost-effective option since it involves less people and there’s no outsourcing to a dental laboratory.
About the Author
Dr. Mark Gray is a highly experienced dentist who has been practicing in Houston since the 1980s. He has always been committed to providing top-tier care to his patients, ensuring that his office has all of the latest, most reliable dental technology. He offers CEREC crowns and has completed advanced training on this procedure as a leader in the Houston chapter of the CEREC Study Club. For questions or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or call 281-493-9395.