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Last updated: 20 July 2026
If you’ve been told you need a crown, you might be wondering where to start with a wide range of options available. Dental technology has progressed rapidly, and dental crowns are no exception.
Getting a dental crown placed on your tooth requires multiple steps. Generally speaking, it takes around two weeks for a crown to be fabricated conventionally at an external dental lab. During this time, you’ll need to wear a temporary crown and return to your dentist for a second visit to have the permanent crown placed. If the crown does not fit or needs extensive adjustments, additional visits are required.
Recently, same day crowns are changing the game. These can be designed, created and fitted in just one day. This approach is faster and convenient for patients. But many people may think that faster means lower quality. This misconception leads some to believe that same day crowns aren’t as good as conventional ones. But here’s the truth: same day crowns are just as strong, durable and beautiful as conventional crowns. The difference isn’t in the quality—it’s in the process.
How does a same day crown work in Singapore?
With a conventional crown, the process is split across two appointments separated by up to two weeks. Your dentist prepares the tooth, takes an dental impression, and sends it to an external laboratory. A temporary crown protects the tooth while you wait. When the permanent crown returns from the lab, you come back for a second appointment to have it fitted.
A same day crown follows the same clinical steps — tooth preparation, impression, design, fabrication, and fitting — but compresses the entire process into a single appointment. The dentist takes a 3D digital scan or impression of the prepared tooth. That scan is used to design the crown digitally using CAD software, and the design is sent directly to the in-house milling machine. At Dental Designs Clinic, the milling machine is located within the clinic itself, meaning our dental technicians can mill, hand-finish, and glaze the crown while you wait. There is no need for an external lab or a temporary crown.
The question patients often ask is whether the speed comes at the cost of quality. It doesn't, and the reason is that the fabrication process is the same. The same ceramic materials, the same design precision, and the same technician craftsmanship apply. The difference is in logistics.
What is a dental crown?
Dental crowns are a form of dental restoration that covers a damaged tooth. They are used to manage dental issues or to restore the shape, size and strength of the tooth. Dental crowns therefore protects a broken tooth, supports a tooth with a large filling, or improves the appearance of a discoloured, misshapen or decayed tooth.
Dental crowns can be fabricated using a variety of materials such as porcelain/ceramic crowns (zirconia and lithium disilicate), porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns, full metal crowns and gold crowns. Each of these materials has its own advantages and disadvantages in terms of strength, durability, aesthetics, and cost. For the sake of this article, we will be talking about the porcelain or ceramic type of crown. If you would like to read more about the different materials, including all the traditional crown materials, please click here.
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Same Day Crowns and Conventional Crowns: What are the differences?
To understand the differences between same day crowns and conventional/traditional crowns, let's first look at how they are fabricated. The key difference lies in the technology and workflow—same day crowns simply streamline the process without cutting corners.
1) Conventional dental crowns
A permanent crown, such as a porcelain or ceramic crown, is often used to protect the treated tooth while blending seamlessly with the surrounding teeth.
Traditional crowns are created in an external dental laboratory, often requiring two or more visits. The process begins with tooth preparation, where the dentist cleans and shapes your tooth to ensure that the crown will fit securely and comfortably. Once the tooth is prepared, the dentist takes a dental impression, which may be in the form of a digital impression or physical impression. The impression acts as a mold to capture the exact shape and size of your teeth. This ensures the permanent crown will fit and align naturally with your bite. Following the conventional method, it takes time for the permanent crown to be fabricated. Hence, a temporary crown is placed over your tooth to protect it and allow you to chew normally while waiting for the permanent crown.
The impression is then sent to an external dental lab. An external dental lab is a separate facility, not located within a dental clinic, that helps dentists by creating custom dental appliances for patients. These labs work with many different dental offices and clinics, providing the necessary restorations like dental crowns, dental bridges, dental implants, dentures and other dental prosthetics. The external lab is staffed by dental technicians. They do not see patients directly; instead, they receive impressions or digital scans of patients' teeth from the dental clinics. Using these, they design and fabricate the dental prosthetics before sending the finished dental restorations back to the clinic for the dentist to place in the patient's mouth. This process can take up to two weeks.
During your next dental visit, the dentist removes the temporary crown and places the permanent one, checking the fit and making minor adjustments as needed to ensure it feels comfortable and looks natural. Occasionally, the crown may not fit quite right or might need significant adjustments to align with your bite. If this happens, the crown is sent back to the lab for corrections, which can add more waiting time and require another appointment..png?width=768&height=402&name=Fb%20Ads%201200%20x%20628%20(9).png)
While traditional crowns have been the standard for many years, the process can be time-consuming and inconvenient. Patients may experience discomfort from wearing a temporary crown, which can sometimes cause irritation or even break before the permanent crown is ready. Plus, the added cost of temporary crowns and multiple visits can make the process feel frustrating for those with busy schedules.
2) Same day crowns
This is where same day crowns come in. Same day crowns are also known as CEREC crowns as they are made from CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) technology. These CEREC same day crowns are made using modern CAD/CAM technology. With advancements like the CEREC milling machine, patients can now receive accurate fitting crowns without the lengthy waiting period associated with traditional dental lab processes. This 3D image represents an accurate impression of your teeth. It is then sent to our in-house lab where the CEREC crown is designed digitally, fabricated and ready to be placed on the same day. Dental Designs can provide you with efficient Porcelain Crowns.
This particularly benefits front teeth or large fillings, where aesthetics and durability are crucial. By opting for a natural-looking crown, patients can maintain the integrity of their smile while safeguarding the health of their remaining natural teeth.
It's not just about saving time and money (since you don’t need a temporary crown for a same day case, you avoid the extra porcelain crowns price!). With our dental lab located right here in the clinic, our dental team of dentists and ceramists work closely together to fabricate custom, high-quality dental crowns. They are trained in fabrication of dental crowns and have an eye for the esthetics and functionality of it.
Our in-house dental lab is equipped with multiple machines that utilise modern dental technology. These include milling machines, pressing machines, and 3D printers. Milling machines use milling technology to carve crowns from a block of ceramic. Pressing machines shape ceramic ingots under heat and pressure to make strong crowns. Meanwhile, 3D printers allow us to create detailed and accurate models, making the entire process faster and efficient.
Additionally, our in-house lab uses a fully digital workflow, so you won’t have to deal with uncomfortable, messy impressions. We use pure ceramics for your crown, sourced from natural feldspar found in Norway and Sweden, ensuring they are both durable and natural-looking. Find out more about our in-house dental lab here.
What are the benefits of same day crowns over conventional crowns?
Same day crowns is not a ‘rushed’ dental procedure. Every step—preparing the tooth, designing the crown, and fitting it—follows the same careful process as with conventional/traditional crowns. The process is simply, streamlined, with additional benefits such as:
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Utilises modern technology
Same day dental crowns rely on modern dental technology like digital intraoral scanners and CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing). This technology ensures every detail of your crown is designed with precision, down to the smallest millimeter. Because the design is digital and accurate, CEREC same day crowns fit snugly and look just like a natural tooth.
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Expertise from both dentists and ceramists
For same day crowns, the dental lab will be located within the clinic. There is therefore no need to send your impressions to an external facility. This allows the dentist to personally oversee the entire process and enables ceramists to examine the patient's teeth in person, ensuring an accurate match for the crown's shade and natural appearance. Dentists and ceramists have a sharp eye for both aesthetics and functionality, creating crowns that look and feel just right.
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Immediate Adjustments
If adjustments are needed, they can be made right away while you’re still at the clinic. This isn’t always possible with conventional crowns, where significant adjustments may require sending the crown back to the external lab.
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Convenience without sacrificing care
The biggest advantage of same day dental crowns is the convenience they offer. You don’t have to wait a couple of weeks, spend an additional sum on a temporary crown, or make multiple visits to the dentist.
| Same Day Crowns | Conventional/Traditional Crowns | |
|---|---|---|
|
Technology Used |
Utilises digital scanning technology (intraoral scanner) and CAD/CAM technology, making the procedure much comfortable |
Takes either physical or digital impressions and requires them to be sent to an external lab for crown fabrication |
|
Convenience
|
Entire process completed in two visits within a single day, eliminating the need for multiple visits and temporary crowns |
Requires multiple appointments, including time for temporary crowns |
|
Waiting Period |
Four to six hours |
Typically takes 1-2 weeks |
|
Adjustments |
Immediate adjustments can be made while the patient is at the clinic, ensuring a good fit |
Minor adjustments can be made in the clinic but significant ones may require sending the crown back to the lab, leading to delays in the process |
|
Expertise Involved |
Dentists and ceramists work closely together for each restoration |
External labs consists of only dental technicians, limiting dentist's expertise and direct oversight |
|
Cost |
Often more cost-effective in the long term due to fewer appointments, no temporary crowns, and less time spent in the dental chair |
Typically has additional costs due to multiple visits and temporary crowns |
Conclusion
If you’re worried that same day dental crowns aren’t as good because they’re made faster, rest assured—they’re not only just as good but also a more convenient option for modern dental care. The faster process is simply a result of better technology and having everything in-house, making your experience smooth without compromising on quality.
It is always important to keep your oral health in check by maintaining oral hygiene and going for regular dental check-ups. Feel free to reach out to book your dental visit.
Frequently Asked Questions about Same Day Crowns
Q) How does a same-day crown differ from a conventional crown in terms of process?
Both types of dental crown involve tooth preparation, crown design, fabrication, and fitting. The difference is where and when fabrication happens. Conventional crowns are typically sent to an external dental laboratory and typically take one to two weeks to return, requiring a temporary crown and a second appointment. Same day crowns are fabricated in an in-house laboratory during the same day, eliminating the need for a temporary crown.
Q) How long does a same day crown appointment take compared to a conventional crown?
A conventional crown process typically spans two appointments over one to two weeks, with each appointment lasting one to two hours. A same day crown spans across two appointments as well, but the appointments occur on the same day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Q) Is a same-day crown made in a lab?
Yes. At Dental Designs Clinic, same day crowns are fabricated in an in-house dental laboratory by dental technicians using CAD/CAM milling technology. The laboratory is located within the clinic, which allows dentists and technicians to work together directly during the appointment rather than sending work to an external facility.
Q) Do same day crowns require a temporary crown?
No. Because the permanent crown is designed, milled, and fitted within the same appointment, there is no need for a temporary crown or a long waiting period between appointments.
Q) Are same day crowns available in Singapore?
Yes. Same day crowns using CEREC CAD/CAM technology are available at Dental Designs Clinic in Singapore, with branches at Raffles Place, Telok Ayer, and Orchard. A consultation is required to assess whether a same day crown is clinically suitable for your case.
References
Sannino G, Germano F, Arcuri L, Bigelli E, Arcuri C, Barlattani A. CEREC CAD/CAM Chairside System. Oral Implantol (Rome). 2015 Apr 13;7(3):57-70. PMID: 25992260; PMCID: PMC4402686.
