Until recently, if you had a dental crown put on, the process would take place across two appointments. During the first appointment, your dentist would take a mold of the tooth, send it to the lab, and cover your tooth with a temporary crown. During the second appointment, your dentist would remove the temporary crown and put the permanent one into place. 

Now, you have another option. Computer technology and 3D printing are allowing dentists to offer same-day crown services, which take place in a single appointment. This approach costs more, but it is often worth the extra cost for three main reasons:

You Save Time

Having to take off time from work for two dental appointments can be a burden, especially if you don't have a job with benefits and paid medical leave. When you get a same-day crown, you only have to take one afternoon or morning off from work. This also saves you gas and travel time, which may be significant if your dentist is in another town.

You Don't Have to Wear a Temporary Crown

With traditional crown services, you have to spend a week or two with a temporary crown over your tooth. During this time, you won't be able to eat very crunchy foods. And while temporary crowns often do stay in place, there are times they do fall off, and this can leave your tooth feeling sensitive and painful due to the exposed nerves once your dentist has prepared the tooth for a crown. 

With same-day dental crowns, you don't have to worry about that temporary crown. You can go right back to eating your favorite foods and caring for your teeth normally as soon as you return home.

Lab Mistakes Are Not an Issue

If you get a traditional crown, there's a chance that you'll arrive for your second appointment and find that the lab has made a mistake in manufacturing your crown. Your dentist will then have to put a temporary crown back on your tooth and wait until the lab makes a new crown. This issue is not a problem with same-day crown services. Since the crown is made right in your dentist's office, if a mistake is made, it can be fixed right away.

To learn more about same-day dental crowns, speak to a dentist who offers them. The process is so much simpler and easier for most people.