General & Restorative · 4-min read
Printed temporary crowns vs. final crowns: why we use both
Clinically reviewed by Shivam S. Patel, DDS, AFAAID · Last reviewed September 27, 2026
The short answer
At MCDI, crowns are designed from digital scans of your teeth. We 3D-print long-term temporary crowns and bridges in our office, and most final crowns are made by a dental lab in ceramic or zirconia, materials with a long clinical track record.
Why a temporary crown?
A temporary crown protects the prepared tooth while the final crown is made, lets you chew and smile normally in the meantime, and gives us a chance to check your bite and the shape of the tooth.
What our printed temporaries are
They’re designed from your scans and printed in our office from a ceramic-filled resin made for permanent restorations. We use them as long-term temporaries, for single crowns and for longer bridges.
Why most final crowns go to a lab
Printed crown materials are relatively new, and how they hold up over years of everyday chewing is still being established. Ceramic and zirconia have a long clinical track record, so for most final crowns, that’s what we use.
Do you offer same-day crowns?
Not as final crowns. What we print in the office is a long-term temporary, and the final crown follows from the lab. We’d rather tell you that up front than call a temporary a finished crown.
This article is general education, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Your own plan comes from an exam, and if anything here differs from the written instructions Dr. Patel gave you, follow those.
FAQ
Does MCDI offer same-day crowns?
Not as final crowns. We 3D-print long-term temporary crowns in our office; most final crowns are made by a dental lab in ceramic or zirconia.
What are final crowns made of?
Most final crowns at MCDI are ceramic or zirconia, made by a dental lab from digital scans of your teeth.
Are printed crowns permanent?
We use printed crowns as long-term temporaries. The long-term performance of printed materials in everyday chewing is still being established.