How many appointments does a zirconia crown usually need?
A single crown is usually completed in two appointments. Cleveland Clinic’s patient information says that crown placement usually requires two appointments, and Bristol Dental School describes the same two steps: the tooth is prepared at the first appointment and the crown is cemented at the second.
There may also be an examination and planning appointment before treatment starts, and a short check-up afterwards to look at the bite and the gum around the crown. So the honest answer to “how many visits” depends on how much treatment you need. The sections below explain what each step is for and when the process takes longer.
What happens at the first appointment?
At the first treatment appointment the tooth is prepared to make room for the crown. Cleveland Clinic explains that some of the outer enamel is removed and, where needed, missing parts of the tooth are built up with filling material. This is usually done under local anaesthetic. How much the tooth is reduced depends on its condition and the type of crown.
An impression is then taken, either with a putty-like material or digitally with an intraoral scanner. The shade of the crown is usually chosen before the tooth is prepared, while the teeth are still moist. At the end of the appointment a temporary crown can be fitted on the prepared tooth.
How long does the laboratory stage take?
The impression or scan goes to the dental laboratory, where the crown is made. Sources give similar time frames:
- Cleveland Clinic says it usually takes two to three weeks, sometimes longer, for a laboratory to make a crown.
- Bristol Dental School gives two to four weeks between the two appointments.
- Cleveland Clinic’s page on bridges says a bridge usually takes about two to four weeks to make.
These figures vary with the laboratory, the production method and the number of crowns. Clinics and laboratories plan differently, so the time that applies to you is best confirmed with the clinic treating you.
What is the temporary crown for?
The temporary crown protects the prepared tooth and helps with appearance and chewing while the definitive crown is made. It is not as strong as the final crown: Bristol Dental School points out that temporary crowns can break easily and are not designed to last long.
While you have a temporary crown:
- avoid hard foods and sticky foods such as chewing gum or toffee on that tooth
- slide dental floss out sideways rather than pulling it up
- contact the clinic if the temporary crown comes off or breaks
- keep the appointment for your definitive crown
What happens at the second appointment?
When the crown comes back from the laboratory, the temporary crown is removed and the definitive crown is tried in. Cleveland Clinic describes checking the crown’s shape, colour and fit before it is bonded with dental cement. Bristol Dental School notes that the crown is cemented once both you and the dentist are happy with the fit and appearance.
Some sensitivity to hot and cold is common afterwards. Cleveland Clinic says it can last a couple of weeks, while gum tenderness usually fades within a few days.
When does treatment need more appointments?
Two appointments apply to a single, otherwise healthy tooth. Treatment can take more appointments when:
- Other treatment is needed first: decay, root canal treatment or gum inflammation is treated before the crown is made.
- A bridge is made: several teeth are prepared together and the fit of the bridge is checked.
- Several teeth are crowned: for front teeth in particular, an extra try-in may be planned so that colour, shape and bite can be seen before cementation.
- The crown sits on an implant: Cleveland Clinic says the implant needs three to six months on average to fuse with the bone, so implant-supported restorations take longer than other bridges.
- You clench or grind your teeth: the bite may need extra assessment, or a night guard may be made.
Does a digital scan speed things up?
An intraoral scanner records the teeth in 3D without impression material. A 2021 systematic review by Siqueira and colleagues found that digital impressions were generally quicker than conventional ones. In 10 of the 11 studies that asked patients, people preferred the digital impression, reporting less gagging and anxiety.
A scan makes the impression step more comfortable and often shorter, but the total number of appointments depends mainly on the laboratory stage and the scope of treatment. Some practices mill crowns on the same day in the surgery; Cleveland Clinic notes that this is not suitable for everyone.
What does this mean if you are travelling for treatment?
The two to four weeks quoted above reflect routine scheduling in the UK and the US, where the patient goes home between appointments. If you are travelling for treatment, the appointments are arranged within your stay instead. Our zirconia crowns page gives around five to seven working days as a general guide when no other treatment is needed first, plus a spare day before the flight home.
The number of teeth, any treatment needed first and the number of try-ins all affect how long you need to stay, so the exact schedule is set after the examination. Our page on planning your visit explains how a stay is organised.
How do we plan zirconia crowns at Rönesans?
At the examination we assess your teeth and gums, check whether any treatment is needed before the crowns and discuss how many teeth will be crowned. We choose the shade together with you. Impressions can be taken with our intraoral scanner without impression material, and crowns are made with CAD/CAM at the dental laboratory we work with, so treatment takes more than one appointment. Root canal treatment, if it is needed first, is also carried out at our clinic.
Before treatment starts, you receive a written treatment and cost plan, tooth by tooth, with unit and total costs; the cost is confirmed after the examination. For international patients, airport transfer from Istanbul and accommodation are included in the treatment cost, and we plan the appointments around your travel dates. You can send photos and X-rays on WhatsApp for a preliminary assessment; during opening hours we reply to messages in English and German within 15 minutes. More about the treatment is on our zirconia crowns page.