How Long Does It Take to Get a Dental Crown in Indianapolis?
Traditional dental crowns typically require two appointments over two to three weeks — one to prepare the tooth and take impressions, and a second to place the permanent crown after it comes back from an outside lab. Same-day CEREC crowns, by contrast, are completed in a single 90-minute to two-hour appointment using in-office digital design and milling. Both approaches produce durable, long-lasting results — the difference is timing, convenience, and whether you need a temporary crown.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers a damaged, decayed, or weakened tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, and appearance. Crowns are commonly used to protect teeth after root canals, cover large fillings, restore fractured teeth, or improve the appearance of misshapen teeth as part of a broader cosmetic treatment plan.
Modern crowns are typically made from porcelain or dental ceramic, materials that reflect light similarly to natural enamel — so a well-designed crown blends seamlessly with the surrounding teeth.
The Traditional Crown Process: Two Appointments, Two to Three Weeks
Traditional crown treatment follows a predictable workflow:
- Visit 1 (60-90 minutes): The tooth is prepared by removing damage and shaping it to receive a crown. Impressions are taken and sent to an outside dental lab.
- Between visits: A temporary crown protects the prepared tooth for 2-3 weeks while the lab crafts the permanent crown.
- Visit 2 (30-60 minutes): The temporary is removed, the permanent crown is checked for fit and color, and then permanently bonded in place.
The traditional approach works well and produces excellent results — but it does come with a few downsides. Patients wear a less-durable temporary crown for weeks. Impressions are usually taken with putty-like material that can be uncomfortable. And any tweaks require sending the crown back to the lab, which adds more time.
The Same-Day CEREC Alternative
CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) crowns compress the traditional process into a single appointment. Here's what makes it possible:
- A digital scanner (like our iTero) creates a precise 3D model of the prepared tooth in minutes — no goopy impression material
- Design software allows the dentist to shape the crown to your exact bite and neighboring teeth
- An in-office milling machine crafts the crown from a ceramic block while you wait
- The completed crown is polished, tried in, adjusted if needed, and permanently bonded — all during the same visit
The entire process typically takes 90 minutes to two hours from start to finish. Patients leave with a permanent crown, no temporary, and no need for a follow-up appointment.
Same-Day vs. Traditional Crowns: How to Choose
Both approaches produce equally durable, long-lasting crowns when placed by an experienced dentist. The right choice usually depends on:
- Time available — same-day is ideal for busy patients, out-of-town visitors, and anyone who wants to avoid a second appointment
- Case complexity — highly complex cosmetic cases sometimes benefit from a lab-fabricated crown for absolute color and shape matching
- Location of the crown — front teeth in highly visible smile lines occasionally benefit from custom lab work for the most nuanced color layering
- Personal preference — some patients strongly prefer to avoid multiple visits, while others don't mind
For most crowns on molars, premolars, and even most anterior teeth, same-day CEREC results are indistinguishable from lab-fabricated crowns.
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
A well-placed dental crown typically lasts 10 to 15 years, and many crowns last significantly longer with good care. Lifespan depends on:
- Material quality — modern porcelain and ceramic crowns are highly durable
- Bite alignment — an uneven bite puts extra stress on any crown
- Grinding or clenching habits — bruxism is one of the top causes of premature crown wear (a custom night guard from occlusal and sports guards can dramatically extend crown lifespan)
- Daily oral hygiene — brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings protect the natural tooth structure beneath the crown
- Regular professional cleanings to catch small issues before they become large ones
What About Crown Cost?
Dental crown cost varies based on the material, the tooth being crowned, and whether the crown is same-day or lab-fabricated. Most dental insurance plans cover crowns as a major restorative benefit at approximately 50-80%, though coverage varies significantly by plan. Our team verifies benefits before treatment so patients know their exact out-of-pocket investment in advance — no surprises.
Talk to an Indianapolis Same-Day Crown Dentist
Brauer Family Dentistry serves Indianapolis and the surrounding communities of Castleton, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, and Geist. Dr. Ted K. Brauer has been offering same-day CEREC crowns since well before they were widely available — one of the earliest Indianapolis practices to invest in the technology.
Schedule a crown consultation at Brauer Family Dentistry by calling today.
