Rutledge Dental in Oro Valley has adopted CEREC CAD/CAM technology to deliver dental crowns in a single appointment, a departure from the conventional two-visit process that has long defined crown placement. The practice, led by Dr. Joel Rutledge Jr., designs and mills ceramic restorations chairside, allowing patients to receive a permanent crown without a temporary or a follow-up seating appointment.
The traditional crown procedure requires at least two visits: one to prepare the tooth and take impressions, and another to fit the final restoration. Between appointments, patients wear a temporary crown, which can be inconvenient and prone to damage. With CEREC, the entire workflow—digital scanning, crown design, and in-office milling—is completed in one visit. The system captures a digital impression of the prepared tooth, generates a three-dimensional design, and mills the ceramic crown from a solid block. The dentist then seats the restoration the same day. This approach is particularly beneficial for patients with demanding schedules who prefer to avoid multiple appointments.
The availability of same-day crowns in Oro Valley extends to residents across the Tucson metropolitan area, as the practice draws patients from throughout the region. Oro Valley’s location just north of Tucson makes it accessible to those seeking advanced dental care without traveling to a downtown or specialty clinic. For patients who need a crown due to decay, a cracked tooth, or following a root canal, the single-visit model reduces the time and coordination typically required for restorative treatment.
CAD/CAM technology has been used in dentistry for decades, and CEREC, developed by Dentsply Sirona, is among the most widely adopted chairside systems. It uses ceramic blocks that match the color and translucency of natural tooth enamel, and because the crown is fabricated onsite, the process does not rely on an external laboratory or a waiting period for off-site fabrication. The digital workflow also eliminates the need for physical impression material, which some patients find uncomfortable, and produces a scan that can be reviewed and adjusted on-screen before milling begins.
Dr. Joel Rutledge Jr. has structured the practice around the CEREC workflow to offer complete crown restorations within one scheduled appointment. The practice provides general and restorative dental care to patients in Oro Valley and the greater Tucson area. For more information about the practice and its services, visit Rutledge Dental. Images of the practice and its technology are available at this link and this link.
