Dental Crowns: 3D Printing for a New Smile

When a tooth is damaged, the dentist uses dental crowns to repair and restore the tooth. The traditional process is remarkably slow and costly – 3D printing solves this problem.

Dental 3D printing has made the process of creating dental crowns incredibly easier. The dentist will scan the broken tooth and create a model of the crown with the aid of computer software. They can produce the crown in their office within 30 minutes using CNC technology or special resin to create the crown from porcelain.

This process lowers the duration of producing crowns from several weeks to less 1 hour. This is ultimately less expensive for the dentist and the patient and helps the patient fully understand the importance of dental 3D printing.

Before now, dental crowns required a two-week waiting period, and the patient will need to wear a temporary crown before the crown is ready. That is gone with the introduction of CAD or CAM technology. With the right equipment, the dentist can create the new crown right in their office at a single appointment.

Advantages of 3D dental crown printing

The significant difference between 3D printing of dental crowns and traditional dental crowns is that only an appointment is needed, instead of two. Other benefits include:

• Saves time and money
• Multiple treatment phases merged into one
• Accurate production of the crown
• Easy customization

If the crown is created in a dental lab, there is a probability that the restoration may not fit properly. This is often caused by human error or chemical alterations that may cause the material to warp or reshape after production. If an issue occurs with the crown, it must be recreated, meaning longer waiting time.

3D printing of dental crowns limits all the possible drawbacks. Since computer-aided (CAM) digital printing is accurate without a chance for human error, the new crown will fit properly on the first attempt. The patient will simply need to walk into the dental office, get their tooth prepped, a digital impression is taken, and the crown will be produced right there. The dentist will place the dental crown, and the patient will be ready to go.

How 3D technology works

Digital impressions – the dentist will use a handheld device to scan the teeth surfaces and produce a 3D model in the software. The digital model of the teeth will be presented on the computer screen.

CAD or CAM Digital 3D printing – the digital impression will be sent to the milling equipment. This device will create a new dental crown with the utmost level of precision possible.

Custom shading – the dentist will select a particular shade of porcelain that matches the color of the existing teeth.

Delivery – Once the crown is ready, the dentist will place it on the affected tooth.

In conclusion

Just like traditional dental crowns, 3D crowns must be maintained adequately. With proper oral care, the same-day crown can last as long as regular dental restorations. If you need a dental crown but worried about the long process involved, ask your dentist about getting 3D dental crowns.

Request an appointment here: https://lincroftvillagedental.com or call Lincroft Village Dental Care at (732) 842-5005 for an appointment in our Lincroft office.

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