Restorative Dentistry
Same-Day CEREC Crowns in Charleston, SC
A new crown, designed and made in our office.
With CEREC technology, a crown can often be scanned, designed, milled and placed in a single appointment. Dr. Paolo Incampo, DMD, a prosthodontist with more than 30 years in restorative and implant dentistry, plans each crown to fit your bite.
Replace missing teeth. Rebuild your smile.
One appointment instead of two
A traditional crown usually means a putty impression, a temporary crown and a second visit once an outside lab sends the final crown back. CEREC changes that by bringing the design and the making of the crown into the office. The prepared tooth is captured with an intraoral scanner, the crown is designed on screen with CAD software, and an in-office mill carves it from a solid block of ceramic. The finished crown is then checked, polished and bonded in place, so you can often leave with your final restoration and no temporary to look after. With no lab step in between, there is no second appointment just to fit the crown.
What changes with a same-day crown
- No putty traysA digital scan of the tooth replaces messy impression material.
- Nothing temporaryThere is no temporary crown to wear between appointments.
- Made on siteThe crown is milled in our office rather than at an outside lab.
- High-strength ceramicEach crown is milled from a solid ceramic block designed for everyday chewing.
From scan to crown in one visit
- An exam and digital X-rays to see whether a same-day crown suits the tooth
- Local anesthesia while the tooth is prepared, then a digital scan
- The crown designed on screen to fit your bite and match neighboring teeth
- The in-office mill carving the crown from a ceramic block
- A final check and polish before the crown is bonded in place
When a crown helps
A crown covers and strengthens a tooth that can no longer hold up on its own. These are the most common reasons patients come in for one.
- Cracked or broken toothThe crown holds the tooth together and protects it from breaking further.
- Large or failing fillingWhen a filling has replaced most of the tooth, a crown can give the tooth the support it needs.
- After a root canalBack teeth treated with a root canal are often crowned to help prevent fractures.
- Worn, discolored or misshapen teethA ceramic crown restores the shape and color of the tooth so it matches its neighbors.
When a traditional lab crown is the right call
For most teeth, same-day crowns perform comparably to lab-made ceramic crowns, but they are not the answer for every tooth. With heavy grinding or certain back teeth, a different material may be recommended, and Dr. Incampo will explain why. Because CEREC crowns are milled from ceramic, a gold or porcelain-fused-to-metal crown is made through a dental lab when it suits the tooth better. If the damage is moderate, an inlay or onlay may keep more of your natural tooth.
Related care
Compare every crown material on our dental crowns page, or see the technology in our office, from intraoral scanners to digital X-rays. Coverage varies between dental plans, so we check your benefits and give you a written estimate before treatment begins, and payment plans are available.
The short answer
A same-day CEREC crown is a ceramic crown designed and milled in the dental office with CAD/CAM technology, so it can often be placed in a single appointment. The prepared tooth is captured with an intraoral scanner instead of a putty impression, the crown is designed on screen, and an in-office mill carves it from a solid block of ceramic. It is then checked, polished and bonded in place, so there is no temporary crown to wear and no second visit to fit the final restoration.
Same-day CEREC crowns FAQ
- What is a same-day CEREC crown?
- A same-day CEREC crown is a ceramic crown designed and milled in the dental office, so it can often be placed at the same appointment the tooth is prepared. CEREC uses CAD/CAM technology: a digital scan of the tooth, design software and an in-office mill. The crown covers and protects a damaged or weakened tooth just as a traditional crown does. The difference is that no outside lab or second visit is involved.
- How is a same-day crown different from a traditional crown?
- The main difference is where the crown is made and how many visits it takes, not what it does for the tooth. A traditional crown starts with a putty impression, and a temporary crown is worn while an outside lab makes the final one, which is fitted at a second visit. A same-day crown starts with an intraoral scan and is milled in the office, so no temporary is needed. Both cover the whole tooth to restore its strength and appearance.
- Are same-day CEREC crowns as durable as traditional crowns?
- For most teeth, yes: same-day crowns are milled from solid blocks of high-strength ceramic designed for everyday chewing. In most situations they perform comparably to lab-made ceramic crowns. For heavy grinding or certain back teeth, a different material may be recommended, and Dr. Incampo will explain why. Its lifespan, like that of any crown, comes down to the material, the tooth it protects and your daily care.
- Do I need impressions or a temporary crown?
- No, a same-day crown needs neither putty impressions nor a temporary crown. An intraoral scanner captures a digital impression of the prepared tooth, and the crown is milled from that scan in the office. Digital impressions avoid the distortion that can happen when putty sets or is shipped to a lab, and any missed area can be rescanned on the spot. Because the final crown is bonded at the same visit, there is nothing temporary to wear in between.
- Is a same-day crown right for every tooth?
- Not always, which is why the tooth is examined before any work begins. An exam and X-rays show whether a same-day crown suits the tooth or whether another option fits better. Heavy grinding or certain back teeth may call for a different crown material, and moderate damage may be better treated with an inlay or onlay. Dr. Incampo walks you through your options before treatment starts.
- How do I care for a same-day crown?
- Look after a same-day crown the way you look after your natural teeth. That means brushing twice a day and flossing every day. Although ceramic does not decay, the edge where the crown meets your tooth and gum still needs careful cleaning. Regular checkups let the fit of the crown and the health of the tooth be checked over time.
- How do I schedule a same-day crown visit?
- You can book online or call the office to schedule a visit. Dr. Incampo examines the tooth, takes X-rays and explains whether a same-day crown is the right choice. You receive a written estimate before treatment begins. No referral is required.
Book a visit
Start with a consultation.
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Insurance & financing
Call with your plan details and we’ll check your benefits and give you a written estimate before treatment begins.
Payment plans and third-party financing are available for routine care and for larger treatment such as dental implants and full mouth reconstruction.
