Same-Day Crowns at Chemung Family Dental

CEREC is the system we use to design and mill a ceramic crown in the office. Instead of an impression going to an outside lab, a digital scan is designed on screen and milled from a ceramic block here, usually within the same appointment.

Plan on about two hours from arrival to leaving with the crown bonded. That includes numbing, preparing the tooth, scanning, designing, milling, and fitting.

For most cases in the back of the mouth, yes. They are milled from solid ceramic blocks. For certain complex front-tooth cases where layered aesthetics matter, a lab-fabricated crown can still be the better choice, and Dr. Dunn will tell you when that applies to your tooth.

Many last well over a decade, and plenty go considerably longer. Longevity depends on your bite, whether you grind, gum health, and how well the underlying tooth holds up. Grinding is the single biggest factor we see.

The ceramic is shade-matched to your surrounding teeth. On back teeth this is straightforward. On front teeth, matching is more demanding, which is one reason a lab crown is sometimes recommended there.

The appointment is done under local anesthetic and should not be painful. Afterwards some tenderness in the gum and mild sensitivity for a few days is normal. Pain when biting after the numbness wears off usually means the bite needs a small adjustment. Call us; it is a quick fix.

Not necessarily. A crown covers a tooth; a root canal treats an infected or dying nerve inside it. Some teeth need both, some only a crown. We assess the nerve before recommending anything and explain what we find.

Yes, once the numbness has gone. Unlike a temporary crown, the bonded permanent crown is ready to function immediately. Avoid chewing while still numb so you do not bite your cheek.

Call us. A crown that sits even fractionally high will feel wrong and can make the tooth sore. Adjusting it takes a few minutes and there is no reason to live with it.

Cost varies by material, which tooth, and how complex the case is. Most dental plans cover a portion when the crown is medically necessary, such as large decay, a fracture, or after root canal treatment. We verify your specific coverage and give you a written estimate before treatment begins.

Yes, but tell us, because it changes the plan. Grinding shortens the life of any restoration. We will usually recommend a nightguard alongside the crown, and it is far cheaper than replacing crowns you have cracked.

There is a point where not enough sound structure remains to hold a crown. In that case we discuss extraction and replacement rather than placing a crown we expect to fail. We would rather have that conversation before you have spent the money.