How Long Does It Take To Get A Dental Crown
Dental crowns are often recommended for a variety of reasons. Crowns are installed after severe damage to the chewing surface of a tooth, as part of a dental bridge, or after some root canal procedures. When it comes to dental crowns there are two main methods that impact how long it takes to get a dental crown. The traditional method requires two appointments over the course of a few weeks. In the first appointments measurements are taken of the tooth and sent to a lab so the crown can be made and sent to the dental office. The crown is then installed at a later date. But CEREC same-day crowns allow crowns to be done in a single day. Keep reading to learn more.
How Long Does The traditional Dental Crown Method Take?
The traditional dental crown method is used by thousands of dental practices across the country and has been the standard for decades now. The entire process can take a few weeks depending on some key factors. At your first appointment your tooth is prepped for a crown as part of the dental bridge process, root canal process, or dental crown process. Measurements are taken either with a traditional mold which is placed in the mouth and solidifies over time, or with an intra-oral scanner that takes a 3D rendering of the tooth. Once these measurements are taken a temporary crown is installed that isn’t a perfect fit for your tooth. Over the course of 2-3 weeks, the measurements are sent to a lab where your unique crown is manufactured and mailed to your dentist. Depending on the supply/demand, distance to the lab, and shipping, it can be done quicker or take longer. Once your dentist has the crown they will bring you back for a second appointment to have the crown installed.
Where Are CEREC Dental Crowns?
Contrasted with traditional dental crowns are CEREC dental crowns. CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramic. The early steps are the same. You see your dentist, your tooth is prepared, and measurements are taken. But instead of working with a lab, a machine in office creates your dental crown based on the 3D model created for your tooth. This can take a few hours to create, so this process while only taking a day, will likely require most of the day and will also require some waiting time. Once the crown is ready, it can be installed on the same day. Altogether your entire appointment can be a few hours with a few of those hours including downtime. It usually takes 90 minutes to two hours to create a dental crown with the CEREC machine. Still this is highly preferred compared to using a temporary crown for 2-3 weeks and needing multiple dental visits.
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If you are interested in learning more about restorative dental services, or have questions about how dental crowns, implants, or bridges work, please contact our office for more information.