Crowns can be a lifesaver when it comes to treating teeth that are weak or damaged. The traditional process is extensive and typically involves two visits to the dentist at a minimum as well as a lengthy wait of up to three weeks for the actual crown to arrive. According to the Wall Street Journal, though, same day crowns are a valid options for those busy people who want to get their teeth corrected right away.
Technologically Advanced Design
Using computer-assisted drawing (CAD) and computer-assisted manufacturing (CAM) software, the dentist uses a wand with a camera on the end to make a 3-D image of the tooth. A design for the tooth that the dentist can easily modify is templated by the software. The finished image is then sent over to a milling machine located right there in the office. This machine devises same day crowns out of a single ceramic block.
Comparable Results
The New York Times reported on their blog that the results of same day crowns are comparable to traditional crowns without the added time they take. The intricate nuances, lines and ridges were visible on the crowns that were might in the office. For busy people who want to have instant access to great looking teeth, crowns like these are a viable option.
Budget Friendly
Due to the technologically advanced design and process that is necessary in order to make crowns in the dentist office the same day that a patient visits, the natural assumption is that the cost will likely be significantly higher than crowns made in the traditional manner. For most dentist offices, however, this is not true. The prices that are charged for crowns made the same day that a patient sees the dentist are comparable to the expected costs if an outside lab designed and manufactured them.
Similar Technologies
Patients might be surprised to learn that the technology used by their dentist to make their crowns in only one day and the technology used by outside labs is much the same. For example, the mold that the dentist office makes of a patient's tooth before it is cast and sent away to the lab is digitized and scanned. The dentist is then sent an image of what the crown will look like at which time modifications can be made. The outside lab can make crowns for those teeth that break off below the gum line while a dentist can handle other types of crowns by using the precise machines they have in their offices.
