Here at Chiu Dental, we are excited to offer same-day dental crown services to our patients in the Waterloo and Kitchener area! Interested in learning more about this process? Keep reading!
What are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are custom-made caps that fit over damaged teeth to restore their shape, strength, and appearance. These solutions are typically used on teeth that have been heavily restored or are structurally compromised from procedures like root canals. They protect against breakage and further damage while restoring full function to your bite.
Typically, your dentist will recommend a crown during your routine dental check-up or if you visited an emergency dental clinic for a broken tooth. While traditional crowns require multiple appointments and temporary crowns, modern same-day dental crown technology allows this restoration to be completed in a single visit.
The Advantages of Same-Day Crowns
Chiu Dental’s new same-day crown technology has two major benefits:
- Time Savings for Patients: The most obvious benefit, same-day crowns mean you don’t have to return for multiple appointments. Instead, you can simply block off your day, come to our clinic, and walk out the door with a fully restored smile.
- No More Temporary Crowns: Traditionally, patients were provided a temporary dental crown while their custom restoration was being created. In some circumstances, these temporary restorations could break or fall out, causing further problems during the waiting period. Same-day crowns eliminate the need for these temporary solutions completely, meaning you don’t have to worry about potential complications or issues.
The Dental Crown Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
Here’s how the dental crown procedure works at Chiu Dental.
Step One: Your Tooth is Prepped
The first and most important step of your dental crown appointment is preparing your tooth for the crown. Typically, your dentist begins by freezing the area to ensure you are comfortable for your appointment. Then, they will begin reshaping the tooth to accommodate the material thickness of the crown and create a stable surface. The amount of reshaping and removal required typically depends on the patient and the extent of the damage.
Step Two: Your Tooth is Scanned
Once preparation is complete, your tooth undergoes digital scanning to capture numerous high-resolution images from all angles. Our software can easily create a model based on these images, which eliminates the need for messy traditional impressions entirely.
Step Three: The Crown is Created
Your digital scan is sent to our in-house milling machine, where a solid block of porcelain or zirconia is cut to your tooth’s specifications. Then, your crown is fired to strengthen and harden the ceramic material. Finally, your restoration is stained and glazed to perfectly match your natural tooth colour. This entire process occurs while you wait, typically taking about one to two hours. During this time, you can wait in our office or step out for a coffee while your crown is being created.
Step Four: Your Crown is Placed
Once your crown is cut, fired, and glazed, it’s ready for placement. The insertion process is very straightforward and comfortable. Your dentist will ensure proper fit and bite alignment before permanently bonding the crown to your prepared tooth.
Step Five: You’re Done!
Your same-day crown appointment is complete! Once your restoration is firmly in place, make sure to follow proper oral hygiene habits to ensure your crown lasts. Here are a few tips:
- Avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods immediately after your appointment.
- Take over-the-counter pain medication if needed.
- Maintain proper oral hygiene with regular brushing and flossing
- Schedule regular dental checkups to monitor your crown’s condition
If you are experiencing any issues with your crown after your appointment, contact our office for a check-up.
Choose Chiu Dental for Dental Crowns in Kitchener and Waterloo
From expert dental crowns to comprehensive dental exams, Chiu Dental is here to help. Our friendly team brings over 15 years of experience to every appointment. Ready to get started? Contact Chiu Dental today at (519) 884-0887 to schedule your first appointment. We can’t wait to meet you!