Cosmetic and restorative
Dental Crowns and Same-Day CEREC Crowns in Huntersville, NC
Crowns for cracked, worn or weak teeth, made in our office in one visit for qualifying teeth.
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers a cracked, worn, weak or heavily filled tooth to restore its shape and strength. At Kreeb Family Dentistry in Huntersville, our dentists place crowns, and our office has a CEREC system with an in-house milling unit. For qualifying teeth, that means your crown can be designed, made and placed in one visit.
| Quick facts | Option |
|---|---|
| Visits | One for a same-day CEREC crown. A lab-made crown usually takes two |
| Time in the chair | A same-day crown visit typically takes a couple of hours |
| Comfort | Local anesthetic numbs the tooth and the area around it |
| Afterward | Some mild hot or cold sensitivity is common at first and usually fades |
| How long crowns last | Most last at least 5 years and can last 15 to 20 years |
| Cost depends on | The tooth, the material, whether the tooth needs a build-up or root canal first, and your insurance |
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When do you need a tooth crown?
You may need a crown when a tooth is too damaged for a filling to hold. The ADA lists these common reasons:
- A large filling with too little natural tooth left to support it
- A weak or cracked tooth that could break
- A tooth that has already broken
- A tooth that needs protection after root canal therapy
- Covering a dental implant
- Anchoring a dental bridge
- Covering a badly shaped or discolored tooth
An exam and X-rays show how much healthy tooth is left. That tells your dentist if a crown, a filling or another option fits best.
Crown vs filling: which one does your tooth need?
A filling repairs a smaller area of damage, while a crown covers and protects the whole visible tooth. When a cavity or crack is small, a tooth-colored filling keeps more of your natural tooth. When a large cavity leaves too little tooth to hold a filling, a crown is often the better choice.
If a front tooth only needs a change in color or shape, porcelain veneers may be an option. A veneer covers the front of the tooth only.
What is a same-day CEREC crown?
A CEREC crown is a ceramic crown that is scanned, designed and made in the dental office, so it can be placed in the same visit. CEREC is a computer design and milling system made by Dentsply Sirona. The milling unit carves the crown from a solid block of ceramic.
Not every tooth qualifies for a same-day crown. Your dentist checks the tooth, your bite and the material that suits it best before recommending one.
How does a same-day crown compare with a lab-made crown?
Both cover and protect the tooth. The difference is where the crown is made and how many visits it takes.
| Option | Same-day CEREC crown | Lab-made crown |
|---|---|---|
| Visits | One | Usually two |
| Temporary crown needed | No | Yes, worn between visits |
| Impressions | Digital scan with a small handheld camera | Digital scan or impression material, sent to a dental lab |
| Material | Ceramic, milled from a solid block in our office | Ceramic, porcelain fused to metal, or metal, made by a lab |
| Typical appointment time | A couple of hours in one visit | Time split across two visits |
| When it may be the better choice | A single tooth that qualifies, when you want to finish in one visit | When you need a material made only by a lab, several teeth or a bridge are being restored together, or your dentist advises it for your bite |
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What happens during a same-day crown visit?
A same-day crown visit follows six steps, all in one appointment:
Numbing
Local anesthetic numbs the tooth so you stay comfortable.
Preparing the tooth
Your dentist removes any decay or old filling and shapes the tooth so the crown can fit over it.
Digital scan
A small handheld camera takes images of your teeth. There is no tray of impression putty.
Design
Your dentist designs the crown on the computer to fit your tooth and bite.
Milling
The design goes to our in-house milling unit, which carves the crown from a ceramic block while you wait.
Fitting and bonding
Your dentist checks the shape, color and fit, bonds the crown in place and adjusts your bite.
Does getting a crown hurt?
Your dentist numbs the tooth with local anesthetic before any work starts, so you should feel pressure but not sharp pain. Afterward, expect some time to get used to the new crown, and possibly some hot or cold sensitivity that usually fades.
How do you care for a new crown?
Care for a crown the same way you care for your natural teeth:
- Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth once a day.
- Avoid chewing ice or hard candy on a ceramic crown.
- If you grind your teeth, ask about a night guard.
- Keep up your regular checkups and cleanings.
Call us if your bite feels wrong, the crown comes off, or you have swelling or pain that over-the-counter pain medicine does not help.
What are the risks of a dental crown?
Crowns can have problems over time:
Sensitivity
The tooth may be sensitive to hot and cold. If the nerve is affected, the tooth may need a root canal.
Decay at the edge
A cavity can still form where the crown meets the tooth, so cleaning that area matters.
Chipping or cracking
Ceramic can chip, especially if you grind your teeth.
Coming loose
A crown can come off if the tooth underneath is weak or decayed.
Alternatives include a filling, an onlay that covers part of the tooth, a veneer for a front tooth, or removing the tooth and replacing it with an implant or bridge. Crowns are used to protect a weak tooth from breaking, so a weak or cracked tooth left without one is more likely to break.
How long does a crown last?
Most crowns last at least 5 years and can last 15 to 20 years with good care. A large research review found that about 91 to 97 percent of single crowns were still in place after 5 years, depending on the material. Grinding, decay and missed checkups shorten that time.
How much does a dental crown cost in Huntersville?
The cost of a crown depends on a few things:
- Which tooth needs the crown
- The material used
- Whether the tooth needs a build-up or a root canal first
- Your dental insurance benefits
Call us with your insurance details and we can talk through your coverage. See insurance and payment, and ask about payment options.
Why choose Kreeb Family Dentistry for your crown?
Same-day crowns made here
Our CEREC system and in-house milling unit let us make crowns for qualifying teeth while you wait.
Three dentists
Dr. Bryan Kreeb, Dr. Kelly Kreeb and Dr. Alex Murtagh see patients at our Huntersville office.
Early hours
We open at 7:00 AM, Monday to Friday.
Related care in one office
Root canal therapy, bridges, fillings and crowns on implants are all part of our care.
Can every tooth get a same-day crown?
No. Some single crowns can be made in one visit, but some teeth need a lab-made crown. It depends on the tooth, your bite, the best material for it, and whether several teeth are being treated at once. Your dentist will explain which option fits your tooth.
Is a same-day crown as strong as a lab-made crown?
A same-day crown is milled from a solid block of ceramic, and a large research review found that most types of ceramic crowns in general lasted about as well as metal-ceramic crowns over 5 years. Your dentist picks the material based on where the tooth is and how hard you bite.
Do I need a temporary crown with CEREC?
No. Because the crown is designed and milled in our office during your visit, there is no temporary crown to wear and no second visit to place the final crown. With a lab-made crown, you wear a temporary crown until the lab finishes the final one.
How long does a same-day crown appointment take?
A same-day crown visit typically takes a couple of hours. That covers numbing, preparing the tooth, scanning, designing, milling and bonding the crown. You can relax in the chair or the office while the crown is being milled.
What should I do if my crown comes off?
Keep the crown and call our office at (704) 875-7200 so we can see you and check the tooth underneath. A crown can come loose when the tooth below is weak or decayed, so it is worth having it looked at soon, even if it does not hurt.
Does insurance cover dental crowns?
Coverage for crowns depends on your dental plan, your yearly maximum and why the crown is needed. Call our office with your insurance details before treatment, and we can talk through your coverage, your share of the cost and the payment options available to you.
Book a crown visit in Huntersville
If a tooth is cracked, worn, sensitive or has a large old filling, an exam will show whether it needs a crown and whether a same-day crown is right for it.