Most dental crowns still take 2 visits. Some London practices can already make and fit a crown in a single visit, using a milling machine in the surgery. In June 2026, researchers in Switzerland showed a robot the size of a wine cork that shapes the tooth for a crown automatically. It is a prototype, and it is not used on patients.
How getting a crown works now
A crown is a cap that covers a damaged, heavily filled or root-treated tooth. On the NHS and at most private practices, it takes 2 visits:
- The dentist numbs the tooth and shapes it. They take an impression or a digital scan and fit a temporary crown. The impression or scan goes to a dental laboratory, which makes the crown.
- About 1 to 2 weeks later, the dentist removes the temporary crown and fixes the permanent one in place.
This works well, but it means 2 appointments and usually 2 injections. A temporary crown can feel strange and sometimes comes loose.
Can you get a same-day crown in London?
Yes, at some practices. They use a chairside system, such as CEREC. The dentist scans your tooth, designs the crown on a computer, and a machine in the practice cuts it from a block of ceramic. The dentist then fits it in the same appointment. This often takes 1 to 2 hours. You do not need a temporary crown.
Same-day crowns are usually a private treatment. On the NHS, a crown is in Band 3, which costs £332.10 in England from April 2026. NHS crowns are normally made in a laboratory over 2 visits. Privately, the median lowest published price for a crown in London is £695. Our guide to dental crown costs in London has more detail, and our dental crowns London directory lists practices.
A same-day system does not change one thing. The dentist still shapes the tooth by hand. This is the most skilled part of the job, and it is the part the Swiss robot is designed to do.
What is the cork-sized dental robot?
Researchers in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Basel have built a small robot called MIR (miniature intraoral robot). It measures about 43 by 26 by 28 millimetres, small enough to fit inside an open mouth. Its controls are outside the mouth, connected by flexible cables. The study was published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics.
The dentist first scans the tooth and plans how much of it to remove. The robot then follows that plan. It uses a wide drill to reduce the biting surface, then a thinner drill to shape the sides. The same scan is used to make a custom splint (a plastic guard that fits over the teeth), and the robot is attached to it. If the patient moves their head, the robot moves with them.
The researchers say the crown can be planned and ordered from that first scan. This is why they think a second appointment may not be needed.
The team tested the robot on resin model teeth and on a ceramic as hard as tooth enamel. Its position was accurate to within 0.2 millimetres, even without position sensors. The force during drilling was under 5 newtons. That is about the weight of a half-litre bottle of water.
How close is this to your dentist?
It is not close yet. MIR has been tested in the laboratory, not on patients. The researchers say the next step is to add sensors and a camera, so the robot can track its own position and how the treatment is going. They are also measuring how noisy it is, to judge whether it is suitable for use in a dental surgery.
Robots are not used for crown preparation in UK dental practices. Robot-assisted systems are used for some dental implant surgery in other countries, such as the Yomi system in the United States.
What it could mean for patients
A single-visit crown would mean one appointment instead of two. You would need less time off work, no temporary crown, and only one injection. For nervous patients, fewer visits can make treatment easier to face.
Faster routine treatment could also free up dentists' time. In London, NHS appointments are hard to get, so that matters. On 5 October 2026, 44% of the NHS practices we list in London said they were taking new adult patients.
For now, if you think you need a crown, do not wait for new technology. A damaged tooth can get worse, and a small problem is cheaper and easier to fix than a large one.
Frequently asked questions
How many visits does a dental crown take?
Usually 2. At the first visit the dentist shapes the tooth, takes an impression or scan and fits a temporary crown. At the second, 1 to 2 weeks later, they fit the permanent crown. Some London practices make same-day crowns in a single visit.
What is a same-day crown?
A ceramic crown that is designed on a computer and cut by a milling machine at the practice while you wait. CEREC is one well-known system. You need no temporary crown and only one injection appointment. It is usually a private treatment.
How much does a dental crown cost in London?
On the NHS in England, a crown is in Band 3, which costs £332.10 from April 2026. Privately in London, the median lowest published price for a crown is £695. The price depends on the material and the practice.
Is the dental crown robot available in the UK?
No. The robot built at the University of Basel is a research prototype. It has only been tested in the laboratory, not on patients. The team still needs to add sensors and a camera and test it further.
Are same-day crowns as good as laboratory-made crowns?
For many teeth, a same-day ceramic crown is a good option. For some cases, such as complex cosmetic work or teeth under heavy biting force, your dentist may advise a crown made in a laboratory. Ask your dentist which is better for your tooth.