07/22/2025
We make most of our crowns, inlays, and onlays in our office in one appointment now, and we have been for the better part of a year.
So, what is a crown?
Some teeth that have experienced more extensive decay, erosion, or fracture (all of the above in the case of this post) require more extensive treatment than simple fillings. Crowns act as protective helmets that prevent a catastrophic failure that would result in the loss of the tooth. Onlays and inlays are also more extensive than simple fillings, but only replace less of the tooth than crowns do.
It used to be that when a patient needed a crown, two separate appointments were needed. At the first appointment, the tooth was prepared for a crown and a temporary crown was made. Two weeks later or so, the patient returned for the cementation of the final crown.
Making crowns in our office saves time. In some cases, this means that patients don't need to take two separate days off of work, or find a babysitter for the kids twice. It also means that we have more time on our schedule to see emergencies or to fit patients in sooner than they otherwise would be seen.
Moreover, now patients don't have to worry about temporary crowns breaking or falling out.
We use a 3D printer (the Midas from ), and we have found that the crowns fit more consistently than they ever have.
There are some situations in which the crown can't be made the same day. For those cases, we have developed close relationships with top notch ceramists and technicians who will make gorgeous porcelain restorations that fit beautifully.
Feel free to call (301) 963-0800 or message us for more info.
(the photo with the purple background is what the tooth looks like after it has been prepared for the new crown. We use rubber dams, like the purple one you see there, to maintain a clean working environment around the tooth)
