Same-day dental crowns have swept the dentistry world by storm. Many people tend to choose same-day crowns over traditional crowns because they’re convenient and attractive. However, traditional dental crowns are more sturdy and enduring than same-day crowns––and they’re very attractive and complement the patient’s appearance.
Frontier Dental in Medina, OH offers durable and reliable dental crowns. There are some significant differences between same-day crowns and traditional crowns. We believe knowing their differences and advantages can help patients make informed decisions about their oral health.
The Versatility of a Dental Crown
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cover––also called a “tooth cap”––that fits over a patient’s natural tooth. Your dentist may use a dental crown to do the following:
- Cover a cracked tooth
- Reinforce a fractured or crumbling tooth
- Repair a decayed tooth
- Top off a dental implant
- Restore a broken tooth
- Replace a damaged filling
- Protect a sensitive or chipped tooth
- Anchor a bridge to existing teeth
- Conceal a stained tooth
- Cover a tooth of uneven shape or size
- Protect a tooth after root canal therapy
A crown restores the natural tooth’s integrity and function so patients can eat, chew, speak, and smile with comfort and ease. If a problematic or diseased tooth remains untreated, it can lead to serious oral and general health concerns. Some of these issues can include tooth loss, deep decay, infection, and gum disease.
Conventional Crowns vs. Same-Day Crowns
According to a clinical research study by The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, conventionally fabricated crowns fit the natural tooth more precisely than digitally fabricated crowns produced using CAD-CAM.
Conventional crowns are created using centralized milling machines in a dental lab, whereas same-day crowns are made using smaller, in-office milling machines. A lab-created crown provides enhanced precision, aesthetics, and longevity than same-day crowns.
The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry also states that conventional crowns made using the lost wax and metal casting technique result in a better internal fit than crowns made using the CAD-CAM technique. Another comparative study published in the journal agreed that the combination of the digital impression and milled crown result in the least accurate internal fit.
Same-day dental crowns also require more removal of natural tooth structure than conventional crowns. Additionally, traditional impressions with mold material are often more accurate than digital scanners when making full-mouth impressions.
Crown Strength and Materials
Same-day crowns are made from ceramic and traditional crowns are made from different materials, such as ceramic, metal, and porcelain. Crowns fused with metal are strong because metal integrates to the dentin. Ceramic is not as strong as crowns fused with metal, but they are more aesthetically pleasing.
Most patients prefer tooth-colored crowns to match their smiles seamlessly. During your crown consultation, one of our dentists will discuss the type of crown that will work best for you and how it can benefit your oral health.
At Frontier Dental, we match the crown to the patient’s original size and shape of the tooth. We can make crowns from various materials, including gold, porcelain or ceramic, porcelain-fused-to-metal, all-resin, and stainless steel.
Design and Placement Time
Traditional crowns usually require two dental appointments. The first dental appointment is to discuss the patient’s oral health needs and aesthetic goals, and the second appointment is to place the dental crown.
There may be a couple of weeks in between appointments for the dental laboratory to design and create the final crown. On the other hand, the same-day crown can be designed, produced, and placed all in one day.
Impressions and Temporary Crowns
Both same-day and traditional crowns require detailed impressions to create custom restorations. However, a conventional dental crown fits more perfectly than a same-day ceramic crown.
While the traditional crown is getting made at the dental lab, your dentist will provide you with a temporary crown. Same-day crowns are created in a single dental appointment, so a temporary crown is unnecessary.
The machines used to create same-day crowns do not usually capture the full, detailed image if the patient has a fracture below the gumline. In this instance, a traditional crown will provide a more stable and comfortable fit.
Are You Ready to Restore a Broken or Decayed Tooth?
If you have a broken, fractured, or vulnerable tooth, a dental crown may be the solution for you. At Frontier Dental, we prefer conventional impressions and crowns that we send to a specialty lab so our patients can receive the best crowns possible. Your dentist can help you determine the best treatment for your individual needs.
Our highly skilled and experienced restorative dentists are Dr. Sanjay Karunagaran, Dr. Michael Horan, and Dr. Anna Lesondra.
Whatever your smile goals may be, our Medina dental team is here to help you.
Please get in touch with us today to learn more about dental crowns in Medina or schedule your consultation.
We look forward to helping you reclaim your smile!