Remember when getting a dental crown meant multiple appointments, uncomfortable temporary crowns, and weeks of waiting? Those days are over. At Arizona Smiles in Gilbert, our CEREC technology creates beautiful, durable porcelain crowns in a single visit. Dr. Bollwinkel has used this advanced system for years, giving our patients better results with far less hassle.
How Traditional Crowns Work
Understanding the traditional process helps appreciate what makes same-day crowns special. Conventional crown treatment requires two appointments. During the first visit, your dentist prepares the tooth, takes impressions, and places a temporary crown. Those impressions go to a dental lab, where technicians craft your permanent crown over two to three weeks.
You return for a second appointment to have the temporary removed and the permanent crown cemented. If the fit is not quite right, adjustments or remakes add more time. Throughout this process, you live with a temporary crown that can come loose, feel uncomfortable, or break.
The CEREC Same-Day Difference
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. This technology allows us to design and mill your custom crown right here in our Gilbert office while you wait. The entire process—from preparation to final placement—happens in a single appointment lasting about two hours.
Instead of goopy impression material, we use a special camera to create a precise 3D digital model of your tooth. Dr. Bollwinkel then designs your crown on the computer, adjusting shape, size, and contours for optimal fit and appearance. The design feeds directly to our milling machine, which carves your crown from a solid block of high-quality ceramic.
What Happens During Your Appointment
Your same-day crown appointment begins like any crown procedure—we ensure you are comfortable with appropriate anesthesia, then prepare the tooth by removing any decay and shaping it to receive the crown. This preparation takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Next comes the digital scanning, which takes just minutes and is far more comfortable than traditional impressions. While Dr. Bollwinkel designs your crown and our milling machine creates it, you can relax—many patients catch up on reading or simply rest. The milling process takes about 15 minutes, followed by final adjustments and permanent placement.
Benefits of Same-Day Crowns
The convenience advantage is obvious—one appointment instead of two means less time away from work, family, and life. For busy Gilbert families, this efficiency matters tremendously. No temporary crown means no worries about it coming loose before your next visit.
Quality also improves with CEREC technology. Digital scanning is more precise than traditional impressions, resulting in better-fitting crowns. The ceramic material closely matches natural tooth structure in strength and appearance. And because Dr. Bollwinkel directly controls the design, he can ensure optimal fit and aesthetics.
Are Same-Day Crowns Right for Everyone?
CEREC crowns work excellently for most situations requiring crowns—teeth damaged by decay, cracked teeth, cosmetic improvements, and protection after root canals. Dr. Bollwinkel evaluates each case individually. In rare situations, a traditional lab-fabricated crown might be recommended, but the vast majority of our crown patients benefit from same-day treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do CEREC crowns last?
CEREC crowns are made from high-quality ceramic that typically lasts 10 to 15 years or longer with proper care. They are comparable in durability to traditional lab-made crowns. Good oral hygiene and regular dental visits help maximize crown longevity.
Do same-day crowns look natural?
Yes. CEREC crowns are milled from ceramic blocks that closely mimic natural tooth appearance. Dr. Bollwinkel carefully selects the shade to match your surrounding teeth. Most people cannot distinguish CEREC crowns from natural teeth.
Is the same-day crown process painful?
No more than a traditional crown procedure. We use local anesthesia to ensure comfort during tooth preparation. Many patients find same-day crowns more comfortable overall because they avoid the temporary crown phase entirely.
Does insurance cover CEREC crowns?
Most dental insurance plans cover CEREC crowns the same as traditional crowns. Our team verifies your specific coverage and explains any out-of-pocket costs before treatment. The technology does not typically add extra cost to patients.
Need a crown? Skip the hassle of temporaries and multiple visits. Arizona Smiles offers same-day CEREC crowns for Gilbert and East Valley patients. Call (480) 963-5089 or visit arizona-smiles.com to schedule your appointment.