Getting a single crown is the most common restorative procedure, according to the American College of Prosthodontists. Approximately 2.3 million implant-supported crowns are made annually – many of them using in-office milling machines like the one at Ponderosa Dental in Missoula. This advanced technology creates custom, precision-engineered crowns in just one office visit without sacrificing the quality of your restoration.
Importance of 1-Day Crowns
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that goes over a broken or damaged tooth to restore its shape, size, and appearance. When you need a crown, you usually need one quickly because you’re in discomfort.
Traditional crowns typically require two office visits: one visit to prepare the tooth, take the impression, and install a temporary crown, and another visit to install the permanent crown once it’s been made at an outside lab. The in-office milling unit makes it possible to get a permanent crown in just one office visit.
In-office milling “technology is quickly being adopted in the dental industry as it allows dentists to improve their services and offer their patients a more comfortable experience,” notes Report Linker.
How Does In-Office Milling Work?
First, your dentist prepares the tooth that is getting a crown. They will numb your mouth, remove decay from the tooth, and shape the tooth if needed.
Next, they’ll take digital images of your mouth. No messy goop tray needed! The image is sent to the milling machine’s computer, where the dentist designs your crown with extreme precision.
Once the design for your dental restoration is complete, a small block of porcelain, composite, or lithium disilicate is placed inside the machine, and the milling process starts.
The block is shaped to match the dentist’s design. This is your base crown. The base crown is hand-polished and colored so that it has a natural appearance. The crown is then placed inside an oven for firing/curing. It’s polished again and ready for placement in your mouth. The average time it takes for an in-office milling machine to produce a dental crown is 60-90 minutes.
Before cementing the crown in place, your dentist will inspect your crown, check the fit and placement, and make any last-minute adjustments.
1-Day Dental Crowns at Ponderosa in Missoula
Our in-office milling machine allows us to design, modify, and create same-day crowns with precision, so patients don’t have to wear temporary crowns for weeks. Make an appointment at Ponderosa Dental today for same-day crowns in Missoula!
