One-Day Crowns vs. Traditional Crowns: Difference, Benefits, Costs, and More
Do you need a dental crown? If you have a worn or broken tooth or recently completed root canal treatment, you’ll likely need a dental crown. Our Grove City dentists offer both same-day CEREC crowns as well as traditional crowns for our patients. Each one is created differently. If you’re struggling with choosing one type of crown over another, here’s what you need to know:
How are Traditional Crowns Made?
Most modern dental crowns (traditional designs) are a two-step process. There is an appointment to prep your tooth, take impressions, and then a separate visit about two weeks later to install the permanent crown.
These traditional “caps” are handcrafted in a lab by a ceramist or dental technician who specializes in restorative designs. They can be made out of various porcelains/ceramics as well as zirconia, gold, or porcelain fused to metal base. In the instance of ceramics/porcelain/zirconia, we use a special shade guide to match the material to the existing color of your smile.
Between appointments, you wear a temporary crown over your tooth to reduce any concerns related to aesthetics, eating, or sensitivity.
Once the crown comes back from our lab, you’ll come back to our office to have the temporary removed, the permanent one tried in, and if everything looks just right, we’ll bond it into place.
What is a same day crown?
Same-day crowns eliminate the two-step treatment process and reduce it to a single visit procedure. The process uses digitally advanced CAD/CAM 3D technology, which you might see in 3D printing software or similar equipment. Except in this case, your crown is carved rather than printed.
Grove City Center for Dentistry uses CEREC one-visit crown equipment, which is one of the leaders in same-day restoration design. CEREC allows us to take a 3D scan of your tooth instead of a traditional impression. This virtual model is then converted into the treatment software, where we design the fit and shape of the digital crown. Next, we select a matching block of ceramic that closely resembles your natural tooth enamel. From there, the ceramic is placed into our on-site milling machine, and the crown is carved while you wait.
Some people prefer to request one-visit crown treatments as an opportunity to complete any other necessary procedures during the same appointment. Otherwise, you can sit back and relax while your crown is designed. Once the milling is complete, we bond the crown permanently into place.
If you prefer dental sedation during your crown treatment, a one-visit crown may be your best option. And thanks to the extreme accuracy of the process, your crown will provide an impeccable fit every time.
Which One is Best for Me?
There are advantages to each type of dental crown we offer in our practice, which is why both options are available to our patients. For instance, if it’s difficult for you to take extra time off from work or you absolutely need the entire process completed in one day under dental sedation, a same-day crown will be best.
However, there may be reasons that a traditional lab-made crown is best for your smile. For instance, if you have a uniquely colored tooth where the anatomy of your teeth has various shades and hues, a handcrafted traditional crown will offer the best results when it comes to matching your other teeth. We would have a special shade matching process (sometimes bringing someone in from our lab) to ensure that the crown in the front of your smile looks as natural as possible. It’s as much about art and craftsmanship as it is about preserving your tooth.
Cost of One-Day vs. Traditional Crowns
Comparing the costs of one-day and traditional crowns can sometimes be relative in the sense of the time you’re saving (after all, time is money!) With a single visit CEREC crown, you complete your treatment in one sitting. That means no extra time off from work or driving across town. In that sense, a same-day dental crown may seem like the most economically savvy option for your needs.
On the other hand, traditional crowns can sometimes cost less overall when you look at the treatment fees involved. Although the difference is fairly modest, you may save a little extra money if you don’t mind the second appointment.
Remember that aesthetics can also be worth the investment in one type of crown over another. The appearance of your smile may not come with a price tag, but it certainly is priceless. During your consultation, our Grove City dental office will be able to provide you with a detailed workup when it comes to the cost of each type of crown and any insurance benefits that come into play. Numerous factors can impact your crown cost, such as sedation, buildups, etc., so it’s difficult to provide a flat fee without first evaluating the specific tooth being treated.
Dental Crown Treatments in Grove City
Grove City Center for Dentistry offers both traditional ceramic and CEREC same-day dental crowns at our practice. Our goal is to tailor each specific treatment to the unique needs of our individual patients.
To learn more about your dental crown options, reserve a consultation with Dr. Simone or Dr. Lowe today.
Contact us to learn more about crown treatment options at GCCD
Visit our page on crowns to learn more. Schedule a complimentary consultation by contacting our office at patients@gccdentistry.com or 614-875-3141.
