CEREC Same-Day Crowns: Longevity, Fit, and What to Expect

For years, getting a dental crown meant at least two appointments, wearing a plastic temporary crown that could chip or fall off, and dealing with uncomfortable, gooey putty impressions. With same-day CEREC technology, we can design, create, and place your permanent ceramic crown in a single visit.

How Does the Same-Day Process Work?

Instead of waiting weeks for an off-site laboratory, we complete the entire design and milling process right here in our office while you wait:

• 3D Digital Scan: We use a small camera to take a fast, accurate 3D scan of your tooth, avoiding the need for messy molds.
• On-Screen Design: We design your crown on a computer screen, adjusting the shapes and margins to match your natural bite exactly.
• Precision Milling: Our in-house milling unit carves the custom crown from a solid block of dental ceramic in about 15 minutes.
• Polishing and Placement: We glaze the crown to give it a natural shine, strengthen it in a special oven, and bond it to your tooth.

Are Same-Day Crowns Durable?

A common question is how one-visit CAD/CAM restorations perform over time. Outcomes depend on the tooth, restoration design, ceramic, bonding protocol, bite, and maintenance.

One 10-year clinical study of 226 evaluated CEREC ceramic restorations reported an estimated survival rate of 85.7% at 10 years. That study included posterior ceramic restorations produced with an earlier CEREC system, so it should inform—not guarantee—an individual result.

Because we prepare and bond the crown immediately, we protect the underlying tooth from bacterial exposure and prevent your teeth from shifting while waiting for a lab, making it both a convenient and healthy option.