CEREC technology lets us design, mill, and place a permanent crown in a single appointment of roughly two hours. Traditional crowns require two visits about three weeks apart, plus a temporary crown that can loosen or come off. Same-day crowns eliminate the temporary, the second visit, and the impression tray entirely.
The Old Way
If you've had a crown before, this is probably familiar.
- Visit one: Your dentist prepares the tooth, then fills a tray with impression putty and holds it in your mouth while it sets. A temporary crown is cemented on, and the impression goes to an outside lab.
- The next three weeks: You avoid chewing on that side. You don't floss it normally, because pulling upward can dislodge it. Statistically, a good number of temporaries come loose anyway - often on a weekend.
- Visit two: You take another half-day off work. The temporary comes off, the permanent crown goes on, and if the fit or the color isn't right, it goes back to the lab and you repeat the process.
None of that is anyone's fault. It's just how crowns worked for decades.
The CEREC Way
One visit. Roughly two hours. Done. Here's what actually happens:
- We scan instead of taking an impression. A small camera captures your tooth in 3D. No tray, no putty, no gagging. It takes a couple of minutes and you can watch the model build on screen.
- We design your crown while you sit there. Dr. Friedman designs it on the computer, adjusting the shape and bite to fit your specific mouth - and to work with the teeth around it, not just the space where the old tooth was.
- The mill makes it in the office. A block of ceramic, color-matched to your surrounding teeth, goes into the milling unit. Diamond burs cut your crown from solid ceramic in about 20-40 minutes. You can watch through the window, which most patients find weirdly satisfying.
- We bond it in and check your bite. No temporary, no second appointment, no waiting.
You walk out with a permanent crown and eat lunch normally.
Why It's Better Beyond Convenience
- No temporary crown means no temporary crown problems. No loosening, no falling off, no emergency call on a Sunday, no sensitivity from an imperfectly sealed tooth.
- Less time with the tooth exposed. A prepared tooth waiting three weeks under a temporary is a tooth that can develop sensitivity or, occasionally, decay at the margin.
- One round of numbing instead of two.
- Digital fit tends to be excellent. Scanning avoids the distortion that can occur with physical impressions.
- One trip. If you're driving from Gunbarrel, Louisville, or Lafayette, cutting two appointments to one is a real saving.
Who's a Candidate?
Most people needing a crown, including:
- A cracked or fractured tooth
- A tooth after a root canal
- A large old filling that's failing
- A worn-down tooth
- Certain inlays, onlays, and veneers
Some cases still call for a lab-fabricated crown - complex front-tooth cosmetic work where subtle layering and translucency matter most, for instance, or cases requiring specific materials. We'll tell you honestly which applies to your tooth. See our full overview of same-day dental crowns.
Is the Quality as Good?
Yes. CEREC crowns are milled from solid ceramic blocks and have been studied extensively over more than three decades of clinical use, with survival rates comparable to traditional lab crowns. The material is strong, stain-resistant, and matches natural enamel well.
Need a crown? Get it done in one visit.
Same-day crowns are available at Boulder Smile Design in Boulder, CO. Call 303-442-6142 or book an appointment. You can also explore our restorative dentistry options.
Ready to Schedule Your Visit?
Contact Boulder Smile Design today to book an appointment with Dr. Jesse Friedman.