The Old Way: Why Two Weeks?
In most dental offices, getting a crown is a two-appointment process that spans two weeks or more. Here is the traditional workflow:
The dentist prepares your tooth, takes a traditional impression (the gooey tray), places a temporary crown (which can fall off, feel uncomfortable, or look obvious), and sends the impression to an outside dental laboratory. A lab technician — someone who has never seen your mouth — fabricates the crown over several days. It is then shipped back. You return for a second appointment where the temporary is removed and the permanent crown is cemented.
Every step in that chain introduces a chance for error, delay, and discomfort. The temporary can fall off. The impression can have bubbles. The lab can get the shade slightly wrong. Shipping can be delayed.
The MCXL Milling Unit: Our In-Office Lab
The MCXL (Milling and CAD/CAM Chairside Laboratory) is a precision milling machine that carves dental restorations from solid ceramic blocks with computer-guided accuracy. The machine uses diamond-tipped burs to mill the restoration from a pre-fabricated block of material in about 15–20 minutes.
At SoftDental, our MCXL mills exclusively with IPS eMax CAD — which is widely regarded as the gold standard in all-ceramic crown material.
What Is eMax (IPS e.max CAD)?
IPS e.max CAD is a lithium disilicate glass-ceramic made by Ivoclar Vivadent — one of the most trusted dental material manufacturers in the world. It is the most widely used all-ceramic crown material in modern dentistry.
Exceptional Strength
After crystallization (a brief heat treatment in our in-office furnace), eMax reaches a biaxial flexural strength of up to 530 MPa — far stronger than older porcelain options and strong enough for both front and back teeth.
Natural-Looking Beauty
eMax is translucent and lifelike — it transmits light through the material the way natural tooth enamel does. The result is a crown that is virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.
Ultra-Thin Possible
eMax can be milled to very thin dimensions — as thin as 0.5mm — which means Dr. Nguyen removes less healthy tooth structure to fit the crown. More of your natural tooth is preserved.
Your Same-Day Crown: Step by Step
Digital Scan with iTero
Dr. Nguyen scans your prepared tooth with our iTero digital scanner. No putty or gooey impressions — just a 60-second comfortable scan that creates a precise 3D model of your tooth and bite.
Dr. Nguyen Designs Your Crown on 3Shape Software
The scan feeds directly into 3Shape design software. Dr. Nguyen — not an outside technician — designs the crown right here in the office, customizing the shape, contact with neighboring teeth, and bite surface to match your unique anatomy perfectly.
MCXL Mills Your Crown from an eMax Block
The digital design is sent to the MCXL milling machine. The machine carves your crown from a pre-crystallized eMax block using diamond burs. This takes approximately 15–20 minutes. You can relax, watch TV, or scroll your phone.
Crystallization Firing in Our Furnace
The milled crown goes through a brief heat treatment in our in-office ceramic furnace. This crystallization process transforms the eMax material to its full strength (530 MPa) and develops its final translucency and shade. Takes approximately 25–30 minutes.
Try-In, Finishing, and Final Cementation
Dr. Nguyen places the crown on your tooth to verify fit, bite, and appearance. Minor surface polishing or glaze may be applied. When everything is perfect, the crown is permanently cemented. You leave with your final, permanent restoration the same day.
From digital scan to cemented permanent crown — all in a single appointment at SoftDental.
Same-Day In-House Crown vs. Traditional Lab Crown
| Factor | Traditional Lab Crown | SoftDental Same-Day eMax Crown |
|---|---|---|
| Number of appointments | 2 appointments (2 weeks apart) | 1 appointment — done same day |
| Temporary crown needed? | Yes — must wear for 2 weeks | No — no temporary, no risk of losing it |
| Who designs the crown? | Outside lab technician (never sees patient) | Dr. Nguyen — who knows your mouth |
| Impression method | Traditional putty tray (uncomfortable) | iTero digital scan — no putty, 60 seconds |
| Material options | Varies by lab | eMax (IPS lithium disilicate) — gold standard ceramic |
| Strength | Depends on material and lab | 530 MPa after crystallization — very strong |
| Aesthetics | Excellent (if skilled technician) | Excellent — natural translucency matches real teeth |
| Shipping errors / delays | Possible — lab is off-site | None — made entirely in-house |
| Total chair time | Spread across 2 visits | 2–3 hours in one visit |
| Best for | Complex multi-unit cases; full-arch cases | Single crowns, onlays, inlays, small bridges |
What We Can Make In Our In-House Lab
Our MCXL and 3Shape workflow can produce the following restorations in a single appointment:
Single Crowns
Front and back teeth. eMax is ideal for both — strong enough for molars, beautiful enough for front teeth.
Onlays & Inlays
When a tooth needs more than a filling but does not need a full crown — an onlay is the perfect minimally invasive solution.
Small Bridges
Three-unit bridges in the front teeth and premolar region can be milled from eMax in our office.
Implant Crowns
Custom eMax crowns for dental implants — designed and milled to match your natural teeth perfectly.
Ready for a Same-Day Crown?
Book a consultation at SoftDental. Dr. Nguyen will assess your tooth and tell you whether a same-day eMax crown is the right option for you.
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