Welcome to another episode of All Things Dental, brought to you by York Village Dental, your dental experts in York, Maine. On today’s episode, we are discussing same-day dental crowns. Hi there.
Yeah, same-day crowns, it’s really a topic that shows how far dental tech has come. Absolutely. You hear people talk about caps sometimes too, right? Same thing.
Exactly the same thing. Crown, cap, it’s just a cover for a tooth. But the same-day part, that’s the big shift.
So, okay, for anyone maybe not familiar, let’s start right there. What is a dental crown, basically? Sure. So fundamentally, a crown is like a custom-made helmet or cover for a tooth that’s damaged or weak.
A helmet, I like that analogy. Yeah, it covers the whole visible part of the tooth, right down to the gum line. And it’s usually made from strong stuff like porcelain or ceramics, sometimes metal alloys, to bring back the tooth’s shape, strength, and look good too.
Gotcha. Restoring function and appearance. That’s the goal.
Okay, so that’s a crown, but same-day. What makes that so different from, well, the old way? Well, the traditional way, it involves at least two visits, sometimes more, spread over weeks. Right.
You go in, get the tooth prepped. They take an impression often with that goopy putty stuff. Oh yeah, not the most fun part.
Definitely not. Then you get a temporary crown, wait weeks for a lab to make the real one, and then go back to get it fitted. Weeks with a temporary.
Yeah, I can see the appeal of skipping that. With same-day, it’s all done in one go. Prep, design, creation, fitting, boom.
You walk out, usually in about two hours, with the final permanent crown. Two hours versus weeks, that’s a huge difference in convenience. It must involve some pretty cool tech then.
Oh, absolutely. It’s a blend of the dentist’s skill and some really advanced digital technology working together right there in the office. Okay, I’m intrigued.
Walk us through it. How does that actually happen in one visit? Okay, so step one is pretty similar to the traditional way. The initial checkup and getting the tooth ready.
Examining the tooth, making sure it’s the right candidate. Precisely. We’ll take a look, maybe some digital x-rays, make sure everything underneath looks good.
Then we numb you up, of course, and carefully remove any decay or old filling material. And reshape the tooth a bit. Yeah, we need to shape the tooth so the crown can fit snugly over it.
That prep part is really crucial for a good fit later. Okay. Tooth prepped.
Now the paths diverge. This is where the magic happens, sort of, instead of that putty impression. Goop, yeah.
We use a small wand-like digital scanner. It’s just moved around inside your mouth over the prepped tooth. Super comfortable.
Ah, so it takes pictures. Thousands of them, yeah. It builds this incredibly accurate 3D digital model of your tooth and the surrounding teeth right there on the computer screen.
Wow. No gagging on putty. That’s already a win.
Big win for many patients. And it’s often more accurate, too. So once we have that 3D scan, that digital impression.
What happens next? Does it go off to a lab computer somewhere? Nope. It goes straight into specialized design software right there in the dental office. Using that 3D model, the dentist actually designs your crown digitally.
Like customizing the shape and size on the computer. Exactly. Customizing the shape, the size, how it bites against the other teeth.
We can make it look and function just like a natural tooth. It’s incredibly precise. Digital sculpting for teeth.
Pretty much. And once the design looks perfect, it gets sent wirelessly to another piece of amazing tech. The milling machine I’ve heard about.
That’s the one. It’s an in-office milling unit. We choose a block of high quality ceramic or porcelain that matches your other teeth.
You match the color first. Oh, yeah. Shade matching is key.
We pick the right block, pop it in the machine, and it uses tiny diamond burrs to carve out the exact crown we just designed from that solid block. While you wait. Like right there.
While you’re maybe reading a magazine or just relaxing for a bit, yeah. The milling itself usually takes like 15 to 30 minutes. It’s pretty fast.
That is seriously impressive. So practices need this specific equipment. They do.
It’s an investment in the technology, like the scanner and the mill, and also in the training for the team to use it effectively. Places like York Village Dental, they really combine that tech with the dental skill. Right.
The art and the science. Okay. So the machine finishes carving.
What’s the last part? Placement and adjustment. We take the newly milled crown, check the fit on your tooth, make sure it sits perfectly. We look at the color match again, maybe do a little polishing.
Making sure it feels right when you bite down. Absolutely crucial. We check the bite very carefully, make any tiny adjustments needed so it feels comfortable and natural.
Once everything’s perfect, we bond it permanently to your tooth with a really strong dental cement. And that’s it. Almost.
Just some final checks on bite alignment, make sure everything feels good. Then we give you instructions on how to care for it, you know, brushing, flossing, maybe avoiding super sticky stuff for a day or so. The whole thing done.
Prep, scan, design, mill, bond in roughly two hours. That convenience is undeniable. But let’s back up.
Why would someone need a crown in the first place, same day or not? Good question. It’s not always just about speed. Crowns serve really important functions.
A big one is protecting a weak tooth. Maybe it has a large crack or a huge filling that leaves the tooth fragile. So the crown holds it together.
Kind of, yeah. Prevents it from breaking. Or if a tooth is already broken or really badly worn down, maybe from grinding.
A crown can rebuild it. Exactly. Rebuild its shape and strength.
Also, if you have a really large filling, a crown can cover the whole thing and support the remaining tooth structure. Okay. Structural support.
Structural support. Definitely. And they’re used in bridges too.
They go on the teeth next to a gap to hold the replacement tooth in place. Ah. Anchors for a bridge.
Right. And sometimes for cosmetic reasons, if a tooth is really misshapen or deeply stained, in a way whitening can’t fix. And dental implants, they need crowns too, right? Absolutely.
The crown is the part of the implant restoration that looks and functions like the actual tooth sitting on top of the implant post. So lots of reasons beyond just convenience. Okay.
Let’s hit some common questions people might have. We already covered a crown versus cap basically the same. What about lifespan? How long do these things last? That’s always a big question.
And honestly, it varies. But generally with good care, you’re looking at anywhere from five to 15 years. Five to 15? That’s quite a range.
It is. And many last much longer, even 20 years plus sometimes. It depends on a few things.
The material used makes a difference. Where it is in your mouth, back teeth take more force than front teeth. Makes sense.
But probably the biggest factor is just how well you take care of it. Brushing and flossing. Number one.
Especially right around the edge where the crown meets the gum. Regular dental checkups are vital too, so we can spot any tiny issues early. And you know, habits matter.
Like chewing ice. Exactly. Or grinding your teeth, using teeth as tools.
That puts a lot of stress on them. Natural teeth or crowns. Got it.
So treat it well, and it should last. Now, the procedure itself. Is getting a same-day crown painful? Doing it all at once sounds intense.
It sounds like a lot, but no, it shouldn’t be painful. We use local anesthetic, just like for a filling. Your tooth and gums will be completely numb during the preparation part.
So you don’t feel the drilling or shaping? Nope. You might feel some vibration or pressure, but definitely not pain. The scanning is just a light wand, and the milling happens outside your mouth.
When we fit it, again, you might feel pressure, but it’s not painful. What about after, when the numbness wears off? It’s pretty common to have some mild sensitivity. Maybe a bit of soreness in the gums for a day or two.
Similar to after a filling, really. Usually, over-the-counter pain relievers handle it just fine. If it lasts longer or feels severe, definitely call the dentist.
Okay. Good to know. Here’s one that might surprise people.
Can you still get a cavity on a tooth with a crown? Ah, yes. Unfortunately, you can. Yeah.
The crown material itself, the porcelain or ceramic, can’t decay, but… Tooth underneath. Exactly. The natural tooth structure is still under there.
And crucially, the edge, the margin where the crown meets the tooth, usually near the gum line, that spot, is still vulnerable to decay if plaque builds up. So you still have to brush and floss around it really well? Absolutely critical. Maybe even more critical, because that margin can be a little harder to keep perfectly clean.
Good hygiene protects the underlying tooth. Okay. So crowns aren’t cavity-proof shields.
What about whitening? If I whiten my other teeth, will the crown whiten too? That’s another frequent question. And the answer is no. Crowns won’t whiten.
The materials they’re made from just don’t react to whitening agents like natural enamel does. So the color is set. It’s set.
When we make the crown, we carefully match it to your existing teeth. That color is permanent for the life of the crown. So you’re thinking about whitening.
Do it before getting the crown. That’s usually the best plan, yes. Then we can match the crown to your brighter smile.
Smart tip. Okay. Worst case scenario, what if a crown comes off? What should you do? First thing, don’t panic.
But do call your dentist right away. Let them know what happened. Should you try to put it back on yourself? Generally no.
Keep the crown safe. Sometimes if it’s intact and the tooth underneath is okay, we can actually clean it and re-cement it. But let the dentist decide that.
Avoid chewing on that side if you can, as the exposed tooth might be sensitive or fragile. Got it. Call the dentist.
Save the crown. Last question here. How is a crown different from a veneer? They both seem to cover the tooth.
Good distinction to make. They both improve the look of teeth, but they’re quite different. A crown, like we’ve been saying, covers the entire tooth.
Think 360 degrees. Its main job is usually strength, protection, restoring function for a badly damaged tooth. Full coverage for structure.
Right. A veneer though is much thinner, like a little porcelain shell, and it only covers the front surface of the tooth. Just the part you see when you smile.
Exactly. Veneers are almost purely cosmetic. They fix things like chips, stains, small gaps, slight crookedness on teeth that are otherwise pretty healthy.
They don’t provide the same structural reinforcement as a crown. Okay. That makes sense.
Crown for major restoration, veneer more for smile aesthetics on the front. So, wrapping up, these same day crowns sound like a fantastic option. Durable, protective, great for oral health, and obviously super convenient.
They really check a lot of boxes. A solid investment in your smile and your dental health, offering a huge boost in confidence too. And achieving those great results, it really comes down to having both the skilled dentist and that advanced technology, doesn’t it? Like you mentioned, practices such as York Village Dental and dentists like Dr. Ryan Smith, they bring that experience and artistry together with the digital scanners, the in-office milling.
That combination is key. Yeah. It allows for those beautiful, durable, comfortable results, often much faster and more pleasantly for the patient.
Getting people that efficient, kind care makes a huge difference. It really does. So, if you have a tooth that needs help or you’re just looking for a faster way to improve your smile, same day crowns are definitely worth asking about.
For sure. Have that conversation with your dentist. See if it’s the right path for you.
For more information, be sure to visit York Village Dental’s website at yorkvillagedental.com or better still, call them today at 207-363-6551 to book your appointment for a free consultation. You’ll be glad you did. Definitely worth checking out.
Thank you for joining us for today’s conversation on same day dental crowns. We hope you enjoyed it and that we will see you again for our next fun episode of All Things Dental. Until next time, stay safe and stay healthy.
Goodbye, folks. Goodbye, everyone.
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