Same Day Dental Crowns – Understanding The Process

If you’re considering a same day dental crown from the office of James A. Burden DDS and Associates, you may be wondering what the process of getting a crown in a day is like. In this blog, we’ll take you through the entire process from end-to-end, and explain each step. Read on, and learn more. 

1. Initial Exam & Tooth Preparation

To begin, Dr. James Burden will perform a comprehensive oral exam to determine if a CEREC crown is the best option for restoring your smile. There are some cases when a same day crown can’t be used. For example, if the tooth is broken below the gum line, the 3D scanner used to create an image of your tooth won’t work properly, and you may need a lab-made crown.

If you are approved for a CEREC crown, the next step is to have your tooth prepared by Dr. Burden. He will use a dental drill to trim away any decayed or damaged enamel from your tooth, and sculpt it to prepare it for the attachment of your dental crown.

2. Tooth Scans & Crown Design

Once your tooth has been trimmed and prepared, Dr. Burden will scan your mouth using a handheld, digital 3D scanner. This scanner takes thousands of images of your mouth and your tooth, and uploads them to a special software program that turns them into a 3D image.

Then, Dr. Burden can use this 3D image to design your crown using a computer, and ensure that it will fit perfectly onto your tooth, restoring your smile and bite. The process of designing your crown typically takes only a few minutes.

3. Crown Manufacturing In Our CEREC Machine

CEREC uses a CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Manufacturing) milling machine. This machine is located in our office, and once Dr. Burden completes the design of your crown, he will send the design to this milling machine.

Then, he will load a block of porcelain into the machine, which will match the color and shade of your teeth perfectly. Once this is done, the milling machine will use the crown design uploaded by Dr. Burden to carve a perfectly-fitted crown out of the solid porcelain block. It usually takes about 10-20 minutes for your crown to be created.

4. Crown Check & Final Placement

When the CEREC machine has completed your crown, Dr. Burden will retrieve the crown and bring it into the operating room. Then, he will check the fit of the crown to make sure it looks perfect. Minor changes may be made using a dental drill, or if the fit needs a lot more work, an entirely new crown may be built.

Then, your crown will be bonded into place permanently using dental cement. Dr. Burden will clean and polish the tooth one final time, and then send you home. The entire same-day crown process usually takes 1-2 hours at our office.

Get A Same Day Crown In Williamsburg – Schedule Your Appointment Today!

If you have a busy schedule and need to restore a tooth right away, the office of Dr. James A. Burden DDS and Associates is here to help. If you’d like to learn more or schedule an appointment, just give us a call at (757) 229-1224 or contact us online. We’re always here to help you get the emergency dental care you need in Williamsburg.