Dr. Kourosh Keihani, DDS | USC School of Dentistry | 29 Years in Restorative Dentistry
Key Takeaways
- At Oaks Dental, a broken or damaged tooth can be permanently restored with a custom ceramic crown in a single appointment, no temporary crown, no putty, no second visit.
- Our in-office milling unit designs and mills your permanent crown while you wait, typically within a two-to-three-hour appointment.
- Modern lithium disilicate and zirconia ceramics are clinically equivalent in strength to lab-fabricated crowns for most restorations, and with proper care, are expected to last 10 to 15 years or more.
- Same-day crown procedures are covered by most dental insurance plans at the same benefit level as traditional crown procedures.
A cracked or broken tooth is already stressful enough. The last thing you need is to hear that fixing it means coming back twice, wearing something provisional for two to three weeks, and quietly hoping it doesn’t come loose at dinner. That was the old way. At Oaks Dental, it is no longer your only option.
The Old Way: Why Three Appointments for One Crown Was the Norm
Traditional crown placement required two separate visits because the work was split between two locations. At the first appointment, the tooth was prepared, a tray of putty was packed into your mouth to take a physical impression, and that mold was shipped to an off-site dental laboratory. You left wearing a temporary crown, a placeholder made of acrylic that could loosen, stain, or fracture before your permanent crown ever arrived.
Two to three weeks later, you returned for a second appointment to have the lab-fabricated crown bonded permanently in place.
For a working professional in Calabasas, this was not simply inconvenient. It meant two days carved out of your schedule, two rounds of anesthetic, and weeks of quietly managing something that felt unfinished. In a community where how you show up professionally and personally carries weight, a provisional fix is not really a fix.
The Modern Way, What In-Office Milling Actually Means
In-office CAD/CAM technology, computer-aided design, and computer-aided manufacturing eliminate the off-site laboratory entirely. The digital scan, the crown design, the milling, and the permanent placement all happen here, in our studio, within a single appointment.
Here is what you will actually experience.
Step 1: Your Digital Scan (No Putty Required)
After your tooth is prepared, one of our doctors uses a small handheld intra-oral scanner to capture a precise, three-dimensional image of your tooth and surrounding bite. The scanner moves gently across the tooth’s surface. There is no tray, no putty, no gagging sensation. Most patients describe it as one of the more comfortable parts of the appointment.
The full scan takes roughly 60 seconds. The result is a high-resolution 3D model that is more dimensionally accurate than a traditional physical impression, and it is available for design immediately.
Step 2: Designing Your Crown in Real Time
The 3D scan loads directly into our design software, where the crown is shaped to match the precise contours and bite of your natural tooth. Shade matching happens at this stage as well, ensuring your new crown integrates with your surrounding teeth.
In many cases, you can watch this process on-screen. Patients who have seen their crown being designed often describe it as one of the more unexpectedly reassuring parts of the visit, visible, concrete confirmation that what is being made is specific to their tooth, their bite, their mouth.
Step 3, Milled, Glazed, and Bonded, Same Appointment
Once the design is confirmed, the file is sent directly to our in-office milling unit. A ceramic block, typically lithium disilicate or zirconia, is precision-milled into your crown in minutes. It is then glazed and polished to achieve a natural-looking finish before being bonded permanently to your prepared tooth.
In most cases, no temporary crown is placed at any point. Your appointment begins with a broken or damaged tooth. It ends with a permanent ceramic restoration.
How Long Does a Same-Day Crown Appointment Actually Take?
Plan for two to three hours from arrival to departure. Tooth preparation and the digital scan take roughly 30 to 45 minutes. The milling process runs while you rest comfortably. Most patients use the time to decompress, answer emails, or simply sit quietly without anything in their mouths. Final bonding and bite adjustment close out the appointment.
That is a single afternoon. Not two appointments. Not a calendar hold that stretches across three weeks.
Ready to restore your smile today? Book a same-day consultation at our Calabasas studio, or start with our new patient exam, which includes a 3D intra-oral scan, so we can assess your situation before any treatment is recommended. Call (818) 431-2000 or book online.
Are Same-Day Crowns as Strong as Traditional Crowns?
This is the question most patients have already heard before they arrive: “Aren’t lab-made crowns better?”
For most restorations, the clinical answer today is no, not anymore.
That belief was largely valid 15 to 20 years ago, when early CAD/CAM materials were less refined and narrower in application. The evidence has shifted substantially since then. Modern lithium disilicate, commonly known as e-max, and zirconia ceramics are clinically equivalent in strength and durability to lab-fabricated crowns for the vast majority of restorations, including posterior molars that bear significant chewing force.
The “lab-made is better” narrative persists in part because it benefits those with an economic stake in the off-site laboratory model. It is not a position well-supported by current clinical evidence for standard crown cases.
When a specific clinical situation does call for laboratory fabrication, a complex multi-unit restoration, for example, that recommendation will be made clearly, and the reasoning explained in full. Dr. Keihani’s 29 years of restorative expertise inform every crown case at our studio, same-day or otherwise.
What to Expect After Your Same-Day Crown
Most patients leave with a fully functional permanent crown and a straightforward recovery.
Mild sensitivity to temperature or pressure in the first 24 to 48 hours is normal as the tooth and surrounding tissue settle. Most patients report this as minimal and brief. If sensitivity persists beyond a week, contact our studio; a simple bite adjustment typically resolves it in minutes.
With consistent oral hygiene and regular professional care, ceramic crowns placed using CAD/CAM technology are expected to last 10 to 15 years or more for most patients. Care is uncomplicated: brush, floss, keep your professional cleaning schedule, and avoid using the crowned tooth to crack hard shells or open packaging.
Your crown is not provisional. It does not require special treatment or a follow-up worry list. It is a permanent restoration, designed to function and appear exactly like your natural tooth.
What to Do Next
A broken tooth does not have to mean weeks of waiting, multiple appointments, or walking through Calabasas with a temporary fix you are privately managing around your schedule.
At Oaks Dental, our in-office milling technology, our digital scanning precision, and Dr. Keihani’s 29 years of restorative expertise come together to deliver something that simply was not available in most dental offices a decade ago: a permanent ceramic crown, designed and placed the same day you need it.
This is what it means to redefine your dental experience.
Book Your Same-Day Crown Appointment
Broken tooth. Cracked molar. A crown that needs replacing.
Call (818) 431-2000 or book online. Same-day appointments are available.
Oaks Dental, 5000 Parkway Calabasas, Suite 308, Calabasas, CA 91302
Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional dental or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual clinical situations vary; same-day crown placement may not be appropriate in all cases. Your treating dentist will evaluate your specific condition and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan. Always consult a licensed dental professional regarding any dental condition or treatment decision. Restoration longevity depends on individual oral health, personal hygiene practices, and consistent professional follow-up care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a same-day dental crown last?
With proper oral hygiene and regular professional dental care, ceramic crowns placed using CAD/CAM technology are expected to last 10 to 15 years or more for most patients. Longevity varies based on individual factors, including bite forces, oral hygiene habits, and consistency of professional maintenance visits.
Do same-day crowns require a temporary crown first?
In most cases, no. The same-day crown process at Oaks Dental moves directly from tooth preparation to digital scan to permanent crown placement, all within one appointment, with no temporary restoration required. Occasionally, a complex case may call for a different approach; your doctor will advise you based on your specific clinical situation.
Are same-day crowns covered by dental insurance?
Most dental insurance plans that cover traditional crown procedures cover same-day CAD/CAM crowns at the same benefit level, as they are clinically equivalent restorations. Coverage specifics vary by plan and provider. Our team can verify your insurance benefits and provide a clear out-of-pocket estimate before any treatment begins.
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