Restore a damaged or weakened tooth in one visit with a custom ceramic crown designed and created right here at South Gables Dental.
If you have a cracked, worn, or heavily restored tooth, a crown may help protect the remaining tooth structure and restore comfortable function. At South Gables Dental, Dr. Lesperance uses CEREC technology to design and create many crowns in the office, often allowing treatment to be completed in a single appointment.
Before recommending a crown, Dr. Lesperance evaluates the tooth carefully. Not every crack, chip, or worn area needs a crown right away. The goal is to understand what is happening, explain your options clearly, and recommend the most appropriate treatment for your situation.
Think you may need a crown? Schedule an evaluation with Dr. Lesperance in Coral Gables.
Why Patients Choose Same-Day Crowns at South Gables Dental
A same-day crown can simplify the restorative process by eliminating several steps associated with a traditional lab crown.
For many patients, that means:
- One treatment appointment instead of two
- No temporary crown in qualifying cases
- No traditional putty impression
- Digital design and in-office fabrication
- Bite and fit checked before you leave
- A custom crown restoration designed for your mouth
- Qualifying crowns backed by South Gables Dental’s lifetime crown guarantee
Dr. Lesperance has worked with CEREC technology for over 20 years and has refined his digital crown process over that time.
Just as important, he does not recommend CEREC same-day crowns simply because the technology is available. Every tooth is evaluated individually to determine whether a crown is the best choice or whether another restorative approach would better serve the tooth.
Signs a Cracked or Worn Tooth May Need a Crown
A cracked tooth does not always cause constant pain.
Some patients notice a quick, sharp sensation when biting into something hard, followed by relief as soon as they stop biting. That pattern can be a sign of a crack because pressure may cause the damaged area of the tooth to flex.
Other teeth gradually weaken over time.
Years of chewing, clenching, grinding, or large existing fillings (especially mercury, silver or black fillings) can leave less natural tooth structure available to support another filling. In those cases, a crown may provide more protection by covering and reinforcing the remaining tooth.
Possible signs that a tooth should be evaluated include:
- Sharp pain when biting down
- Sensitivity to hot or cold
- A visible crack, chip, or fracture
- A large old filling with cracks developing around it
- A tooth that feels rough or uneven
- A portion of a tooth that has broken away
- Discomfort when chewing on one side
These symptoms do not automatically mean you need a crown.
Some worn areas can be monitored. Small chips may only need smoothing or bonding. A tooth with deeper damage may require additional treatment before it can be restored.
Dr. Lesperance looks at how much healthy tooth remains, where the damage is located, how the tooth functions in your bite, and whether the nerve appears to be involved before recommending treatment.
Same-Day Crowns vs. Traditional Lab Crowns
A traditional crown usually requires two appointments.
During the first visit, the tooth is prepared and an impression is taken. A temporary crown is placed while an outside dental laboratory creates the permanent restoration. That process may take one to two weeks.
You then return for a second appointment so the temporary crown can be removed and the final crown can be evaluated and cemented.
A same-day CEREC crown can eliminate that waiting period for many patients.
After preparing the tooth, Dr. Lesperance digitally scans the area and designs the crown on a computer. The crown is then milled from a ceramic block in the office. Once it is finished, he evaluates the fit, color, contacts, and bite before bonding it permanently into place.
For most cases, there is no temporary crown and no second appointment.
How Digital CEREC Crowns Are Made
Digital dentistry changes the crown process by allowing the restoration to be planned and created directly in the office.
A digital scanner captures a detailed three-dimensional image of the prepared tooth and surrounding teeth. This allows Dr. Lesperance to evaluate the shape of the crown, how it meets the neighboring teeth, and how it fits into your bite.
The digital crown design is then sent to the CEREC milling system, which shapes the crown from a solid block of ceramic.
Once the crown is milled, Dr. Lesperance checks it clinically before it is bonded into place.
The convenience of completing a crown in one visit does not mean the crown is intended as a short-term solution. Same-day crowns are designed as long-term restorations when they are appropriate for the tooth and the patient.
When a Same-Day Crown May Not Be the Right Choice
Not every tooth is a good candidate for a same-day crown.
The right restoration depends on the condition of the tooth, gum health, bite forces, remaining tooth structure, and the material best suited for the situation.
A different approach may be recommended when:
- A tooth has extensive decay
- Damage extends below the gumline
- The nerve may be involved
- Gum tissue around the tooth is inflamed or bleeding
- Heavy grinding or clenching affects material selection
- Several teeth need coordinated treatment planning
If the nerve is involved, additional treatment may be needed before the tooth can be restored. Dr. Lesperance will explain what he sees and coordinate care when another provider needs to be involved.
The priority is not making the crown as quickly as possible.
The priority is restoring the tooth correctly.
What Happens During Your Same-Day Crown Appointment
Your appointment begins with an examination and confirmation that a crown is the appropriate treatment.
Once the area is numb, Dr. Lesperance removes damaged or decayed tooth structure and shapes the tooth so it can support the new crown.
From there, the digital process begins.
- A digital scan captures the prepared tooth and surrounding teeth.
- Dr. Lesperance designs the crown digitally and adjusts the shape, contacts, and bite.
- The CEREC system mills the crown from a ceramic block in the office.
- The crown is evaluated for fit and appearance.
- Dr. Lesperance checks how your teeth come together before permanently bonding the crown in place.
Most same-day crown appointments take a couple of hours from start to finish, although appointment length varies depending on the tooth and individual treatment needs.
You leave with the permanent crown rather than a temporary crown.
Focused Attention From Preparation Through Final Fit
South Gables Dental does not double book patients during your crown appointment.
That allows Dr. Lesperance to stay closely involved throughout the preparation, design, fitting, and final bite check rather than moving continuously between multiple treatment rooms.
For patients, that means more time to ask questions, understand what is happening, and make sure the restoration feels comfortable before leaving.
How Dr. Lesperance Checks Your Crown and Bite
A crown can look excellent and still need a small bite adjustment.
Before you leave, Dr. Lesperance checks where your teeth contact when you bite down.
You may be asked to bite on a thin piece of colored paper. The markings help identify areas where the crown may be contacting too strongly.
If necessary, small adjustments can be made and polished during the appointment.
This matters because a crown that sits slightly high can sometimes cause tenderness, chewing discomfort, or jaw soreness after the numbness wears off.
A little sensitivity following treatment can be normal. However, if the crowned tooth feels like it is hitting before your other teeth when you bite, call the office so the bite can be checked.
Experience Matters With Same-Day Crowns
Technology is only one part of creating a successful crown.
Dr. Lesperance has decades of restorative dentistry experience and has worked with CEREC technology for over 20 years.
That experience helps him determine not only how to design a crown, but also when a same-day restoration makes sense and when a different material or treatment approach may be preferable.
The goal is not to place a same-day crown on every tooth.
The goal is to choose the restoration that best fits the tooth, the bite, and the long-term treatment plan.
Lifetime Crown Guarantee
Qualifying crowns are backed by South Gables Dental’s lifetime crown guarantee. Ask our team for details about eligibility and requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a same-day crown appointment take?
Most same-day crown appointments take a couple of hours from start to finish, although the exact time depends on the tooth and the individual case.
During the visit, Dr. Lesperance prepares the tooth, digitally scans it, designs the crown, and has the crown created in the office. The final crown is then checked for fit and bite before being bonded into place.
Will I need a temporary crown?
In many qualifying same-day crown cases, no temporary crown is needed.
Because the permanent restoration is designed and created during the same appointment, you can often leave with the finished crown instead of wearing a temporary for one or two weeks.
How do I know if I need a crown instead of a filling?
A filling works well when enough healthy tooth structure remains to support it.
A crown may be recommended when a tooth has a large existing filling, significant wear, a crack, fracture, or too little remaining structure to reliably support another filling.
Dr. Lesperance evaluates the tooth before recommending either option.
Can every tooth get a same-day crown?
No.
Same-day crowns can be an excellent option for many teeth, but treatment depends on the condition of the tooth, the remaining structure, gum health, bite forces, and the material best suited to the case.
Dr. Lesperance will tell you whether a same-day crown is appropriate or whether another restorative option makes more sense.
Is a CEREC crown different from a traditional crown?
CEREC refers primarily to the digital design and in-office fabrication process.
With a traditional crown, impressions are often sent to an outside dental laboratory and a temporary crown is worn while the final restoration is made.
With CEREC, many crowns can be digitally designed, milled, and placed during one appointment.
How long does a same-day crown last?
The lifespan of any crown depends on several factors, including the condition of the tooth, your bite, oral hygiene, grinding or clenching habits, and how well the restoration is maintained.
Same-day crowns are designed as long-term restorations when they are appropriate for the tooth.
How quickly should I have a cracked tooth checked?
A cracked or painful tooth should be evaluated rather than ignored, especially if you notice pain when biting, sensitivity, or a piece of the tooth breaking away.
Some cracks remain stable for a period of time while others can worsen. An examination helps determine how much tooth structure is involved and whether treatment is needed.
If you think you may have cracked a tooth, South Gables Dental can evaluate it at our Coral Gables office.
Schedule a Same-Day Crown Evaluation in Coral Gables
If you have a cracked, worn, broken, or heavily restored tooth, the first step is finding out what the tooth actually needs.
Dr. Lesperance will examine the tooth, explain what he finds, and discuss whether a same-day crown or another treatment option makes sense.
Contact South Gables Dental to schedule a crown evaluation in Coral Gables, FL.
Dr. Lesperance: Thanks for visiting South Gables Dental’s website! We have been providing Cerec Same Day Porcelain Crowns for over 20 years and have loved making 1000’s of them! You can literally show up for your appointment with a missing crown or a broken tooth and have a beautiful, quality, long-lasting porcelain crown with a lifetime guarantee in less than 2 hours! If you need a crown, call us and schedule a consultation.
We are conveniently located south of Miami in Coral Gables:
South Gables Dental
4950 S Le Jeune Rd Suite C,
Coral Gables, FL 33146
305.665.1263
5 Reasons To Choose South Gables Dental:
- 30+ years dental expertise
- State of the art technology
- 5 star ratings
- Friendly, experienced staff
- Free parking in Coral Gables
Phone Number
305.665.1263