Dental crowns have come a long way from messy impressions and weeks of waiting. Today, digitally designed crowns, often completed as a single visit, are reshaping how dentists restore damaged teeth with a better fit, fewer appointments, and greater patient comfort.
These crowns, also known as same-day or CEREC crowns, are made using advanced 3D scanning and computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology. This dental technology allows for a precise fit, faster production, and a more comfortable experience. Digital impressions are significantly more accurate than traditional molds and improve patient outcomes during restorative procedures.
Read on to understand the biggest advantages of digitally designed crowns and where to find the best CEREC crowns in Mountain View.
What Makes Digitally Designed Dental Crowns More Accurate?
Digital dental crowns offer greater accuracy thanks to the use of intraoral scanners, which capture high-resolution, 3D images of your teeth and gums. Unlike traditional putty molds that can shift, bubble, or distort during the impression process, digital scans provide a clear and consistent model of your mouth. This allows your dentist to design a crown that fits your tooth shape and bite with extreme precision. A better fit means:
- Fewer follow-up visits for adjustments
- Less risk of discomfort or bite misalignment
- A crown that functions more like a natural tooth
This level of accuracy also helps extend the lifespan of the crown by reducing wear and stress on both the crown itself and the surrounding teeth.
How Fast Can You Get a Digital Crown?
One of the biggest advantages of digital crowns is that they can be completed in a single visit using modern dental crown technology, like CEREC. With this system, a dentist can scan, design, mill, and place your custom crown all in one appointment, often in just a few hours. This means you won’t need a temporary crown or have to come back for multiple visits, which is a major convenience for people with busy schedules.
How Do Digitally Designed Crowns Look Compared to Traditional Crowns?
Digitally designed crowns are made to look just like your natural teeth, often making them hard to tell apart from the real thing. This is achievable for two reasons:
- CAD/CAM software: With this software, your dentist can design a crown that closely matches the exact shape, size, and color of your original tooth.
- High-quality materials: Digital crowns that are made with porcelain, ceramic, or zirconia, which reflect light in a way that gives them a lifelike, translucent appearance, similar to natural enamel.
Are Digital Crowns Durable and Long-Lasting?
Unlike older porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns that can chip or crack over time, digital crowns are less likely to break because they’re made from a single, solid piece of material. When properly cared for through good brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups, digital crowns can last 10 to 15 years or longer, maintaining both their strength and natural appearance.
How Much Are Digitally Designed Dental Crowns?
Although digital crowns may come with a slightly higher upfront cost than traditional ones, many patients find them to be a smart long-term investment for a couple of reasons:
- Same-day crowns are made with high precision and durable materials that often require fewer follow-up visits for adjustments.
- Digital crowns are also less likely to need early replacement, saving you time and potential expenses down the road.
In many cases, dental insurance covers part of the cost, just as it would for a traditional crown. When you consider the added benefits of faster appointments, greater comfort, and long-lasting results, it’s easy to see why digital crowns are often worth the price for people looking for quality care and convenience.
Where to Find a Dentist Who Provides the Best Same-Day Crowns in Mountain View
Need a dental crown but don’t have time for multiple visits? At Lagemann Family Dentistry, we use advanced CEREC technology to create custom, natural-looking crowns in just one appointment; no temporaries, no waiting.
Dr. Lagemann pairs cutting-edge tools with a warm, personalized approach that puts your comfort first, and our friendly front desk team, along with our skilled dental assistants and hygienists, makes sure you feel informed, supported, and genuinely cared for every step of the way.
If you’re looking for the best crowns in Mountain View that combine precision, convenience, and a team that treats you like family, we’re here for you.
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