Break a Tooth? Get a Same-Day Dental Crown!
Updated 12-05-2025
When you break or crack a tooth, especially one that’s visible, you want a fast fix. After all, it’s normal to feel hesitant to show your teeth until you’re back to your natural smile. While traditional dental crowns have been the go-to method of repair for broken teeth for years, they require two appointments over several weeks. But thanks to new technology, same-day crowns allow your dentist to repair your tooth in just one visit.
CEREC Crowns Explained
A crown is a type of covering that looks like the rest of your teeth and fits over the damaged part of your tooth. According to the American Dental Association, a crown can:
- Cover a dental implant
- Improve the appearance of a tooth
- Improve the strength of a tooth
- Protect a tooth
- Fix a cracked, broken or damaged tooth
- Hold a dental bridge in place
And Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics (CEREC) is a type of crown that can be made in-office. Examining the damaged tooth, your dentist can determine if you’re an ideal CEREC candidate. Sometimes, you will get a quick X-ray, too.
CEREC is a step-by-step process that’s completed entirely in-house in one day:
- Prep: Your dentist will use local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth. Special tools shape your tooth in preparation for a crown.
- Scan: Next, a CEREC digital scanner creates a 3D image of your tooth.
- Design: Your dentist uses computer-aided design (CAD) software to create a model of your crown using your 3D image as a guide.
- Create: In less than half an hour, a milling machine, located in your dentist’s office, creates your crown from durable, natural-looking material.
- Attach: Your dentist fits your crown to your tooth, adjusting as necessary for a perfect fit.
- Bond: Dental cement creates a permanent bond, ensuring the crown won’t come loose.
- Polish: Once clean and polished, your new crown will match the rest of your teeth.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Same-Day Dental Crowns
Many people choose same-day dental crowns for the convenience of a one-and-done appointment. Same-day dental crowns have some surprising additional benefits, too.
- Appearance: Same-day dental crowns are made from material that more closely mimics your natural teeth.
- Durability: CEREC crowns are made from strong material. With proper care, CEREC crowns will last 10 to 15 years and, likely, longer.
- Personalized fit: Traditional molds require biting down on putty to create an impression of your teeth. This process is often messy, and the result sometimes isn’t as accurate as a 3D impression.
Because CEREC requires special equipment and training, however, not all dentists offer same-day dental crowns. Also, a few insurance companies consider same-day dental crowns cosmetic, even if the tooth is damaged. So, if you have dental insurance, be sure to understand what it will cover fully.
Chipping or breaking a visible tooth can cause a surprising amount of grief. Beyond any pain you may experience, you may be conscious of how your smile looks every time you open your mouth. A same-day dental crown allows you to return to your natural smile quickly, with technology that ensures a great fit.
Curious About Same-Day Dental Crowns?
Unlike many dentists, we offer same-day dental crowns using the latest technology. If you want to fix a damaged tooth fast, contact First Impressions Dentistry today. Using CEREC, we can restore the look of your smile in just one visit.