If you’ve been told you need a dental crown, you probably have questions. How long will this take? How many appointments? Will I have to walk around with a temporary tooth for weeks? Those are fair questions. The answers depend on the type of crown you choose.
At Gwaltney Dental, we offer same-day crowns right here in our Suffolk office. But we also want you to understand how they compare to the traditional method. Knowing the difference helps you make a confident choice about your care.
The Traditional Crown Process
For decades, getting a crown meant a multi-step journey. Here’s how it worked:
- Appointment one: We’d numb your tooth, shape it down, and take a messy impression using that goopy material that makes many patients gag. Then we’d place a temporary crown and send the impression off to an outside lab.
- The waiting game: You’d wear that temporary for two to three weeks. Sometimes longer. Temporaries can pop off at the worst moments: while you’re eating, talking, or brushing. And they’re not meant to last.
- Appointment two: You’d come back, get numbed again, and have the permanent crown cemented into place.
Two appointments. Two rounds of numbing. Weeks of waiting. And a temporary that never quite felt right.
The Same-Day Crown Process
Now here’s how we do it at Gwaltney Dental.
You come in for one appointment. Dr. Steve, Dr. Ryland, or Dr. Whitney examines your tooth and confirms a crown is the right solution. We numb the area and gently shape the tooth. Instead of goopy impression material, we use a small digital scanner. It glides over your tooth and captures thousands of images in seconds. No gagging. No discomfort.
That scan goes straight to our in-office milling machine. While you relax, the machine carves your permanent crown from a solid block of high-quality ceramic. The whole process takes about an hour or two, depending on the case.
When it’s ready, we check the fit, make any fine adjustments, and cement it into place. You could walk out with a permanent crown; no temporary, no second appointment, no waiting.
How Do They Compare?
Number of appointments
- Traditional: Two (sometimes more)
- Same-day: One
Time from start to finish
- Traditional: Two to three weeks
- Same-day: A single visit
Temporary crown needed?
- Traditional: Yes, for weeks
- Same-day: No
Impression method
- Traditional: Goopy tray
- Same-day: Digital scan
Risk of temporary falling off
- Traditional: Yes
- Same-day: None
Fit and accuracy
- Traditional: Good, but depends on lab communication
- Same-day: Excellent; designed and milled on-site
Are Same-Day Crowns Right for Everyone?
Same-day crowns work beautifully for most patients. But in some situations, a traditional lab-made crown may be the better choice. For example, if your case is unusually complex or you need a crown on a back tooth that requires a specific material.
Dr. Steve, Dr. Ryland, and Dr. Whitney will assess your situation and recommend the best option for you. No pressure. Just honest guidance.
Why We Invested in This Technology
Our family has been caring for Suffolk and Carrollton patients since 1983. We’ve seen how much patients dread the old crown process. The temporaries. The extra appointments. The inconvenience.
Same-day crowns eliminate those headaches. They’re more comfortable, more convenient, and just as durable as traditional crowns. That’s why we brought this technology into our office.
Ready to Learn More?
If you’ve been told you need a crown, or if you have a damaged tooth that needs attention, call us at 757-982-8467 or request an appointment online. We’re on Pruden Boulevard, and we’d love to walk you through your options.
One appointment. One crown. Your happy smile. That’s the Gwaltney way.