The process
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General dentistry · CEREC
Scan. Design. Mill. Fit.
A same-day crown is a ceramic crown made and fitted in one appointment. We scan the tooth digitally, design the crown on screen, mill it from a solid ceramic block in our on-site lab and bond it in place, usually within two to three hours. There is no impression putty, no temporary crown and no second visit. Guide fee from £1,250.
Guide fee
From £1,250
Visits
One
Time with us
Around 2–3 hours
Made
On site, with CEREC
CEREC and Primescan by Dentsply Sirona
Who it is for
Who a same-day crown suits
A tooth that has broken or cracked
When a cusp has fractured or a crack is spreading, a crown holds the tooth together. Doing it the same day means the tooth is protected before the crack can travel further.
A large filling that keeps failing
Once a filling takes up most of a tooth, the remaining walls flex and chip. A crown covers and reinforces what is left.
A tooth that has had root canal treatment
Root-filled back teeth are more likely to fracture. Sealing the tooth with a crown soon after treatment improves its long-term outlook.
Anyone who cannot spare two appointments
The conventional route means a temporary crown and a return visit a fortnight later. This route means one diary entry.
The difference
What changes the result
A digital scan instead of a mould
Our Primescan and iTero scanners record the tooth in fine detail in a couple of minutes. The crown is designed against that exact model, so the fit is close and the bite needs little adjustment.
The lab is down the corridor
The crown is milled on site while you wait. If the shade or shape needs refining, the dentist who prepared the tooth does it there and then, with you in the room.
No temporary crown
Temporaries can come loose, leak and leave the tooth sensitive. Fitting the final crown straight away removes that stage altogether.
Bonded, not just cemented
Modern ceramics are adhesively bonded to the tooth, which lets us keep more of your own tooth structure than a traditional crown preparation.
01
Assess and numb
We check the tooth, take any X-rays needed and confirm a crown is the right answer. The tooth is numbed and shaped.
02
Scan and design
A digital scan replaces the impression. Your dentist designs the crown on screen and you can see it before it is made.
03
Mill and finish
The crown is milled from a ceramic block, then stained, glazed and fired to match the neighbouring teeth. You can take calls or catch up on email in the meantime.
04
Fit and check
The crown is tried in, the bite is checked and it is bonded in place. You leave with the finished tooth.
Afterwards
Aftercare
The tooth may feel slightly different for a day or two while your bite settles. Treat the crown as you would a natural tooth: brush twice a day, clean between your teeth and see the hygienist regularly. If you grind your teeth at night, we may recommend a night guard to protect it.
Guide fees
Same-day CEREC crownfrom £1,250
Highly aesthetic or cosmetic crownfrom £1,450
Post and corefrom £350
Guide fees. You receive a written plan with exact costs before treatment starts. See all fees
Common questions
Questions, answered
How long does a same-day crown appointment take?+
Allow two to three hours from start to finish. Around half of that is milling and finishing time, when you are free to work, read or step out.
Is a same-day crown as strong as a lab-made crown?+
Yes. CEREC crowns are milled from solid blocks of high-strength ceramic, the same families of material a dental laboratory uses. The research on their longevity is well established.
How much does a same-day crown cost?+
Our guide fee is from £1,250, the same as a conventional ceramic crown. You receive a written plan with the exact fee before any treatment starts.
Will it match my other teeth?+
We choose the ceramic shade against your own teeth, then stain and glaze the crown by hand before fitting. For front teeth with complex colour we may recommend a layered, lab-crafted crown instead, and we will tell you so.
Can every crown be made in a day?+
Most back teeth can. Some situations, such as a tooth needing gum treatment first or a highly cosmetic front tooth, are better done in stages. We will explain which applies before we begin.
Does it hurt?+
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic, so you should feel pressure and vibration but not pain. Mild tenderness afterwards usually settles within a day or two.
How long will the crown last?+
With good home care and regular check-ups, a ceramic crown can be expected to last many years. Its lifespan depends on your bite, your habits and the health of the tooth beneath it.