Can Office Workers Get Cavity Treatment Done During Lunch Break?

Hello.

I am Dr. Jaeho Jeon, an oral and maxillofacial surgery specialist at ARC Dental Clinic, and a visiting professor at Seoul National University Dental Hospital. We provide cavity treatment, tooth restoration, dental implant placement, re-operations, impacted wisdom tooth extraction, TMJ treatment, and oral cyst removal near Gwanghwamun, Seoul City Hall, Jongno, Euljiro, Myeongdong, and Cheonggyecheon.

Stories from the Clinic with Gwanghwamun Office Workers

Treating patients in Gwanghwamun, I meet people from all walks of life. There are office workers in the building right in front of the clinic, civil servants who visit during their lunch break, and service industry workers from Myeongdong. They come from Jongno and Euljiro, all around the Cheonggyecheon area.

When they sit in the chair and talk to me, there is one thing I hear most often.

"Doctor, can everything be finished in one day today?"

Most patients come because their teeth hurt, but in the clinic, I hear the word "time" even more often than "cavity."

"I have a meeting, so I cannot stay long." "It is my lunch break, so I need to get back within an hour." "I am on a business trip this week, so it is hard to come again." Working in an area with so many office workers around Gwanghwamun, Jongno, and Euljiro, I hear these stories several times a day.

In the past, if a cavity was deep and required prosthetic treatment, the typical process was to receive treatment, take an impression, use a temporary tooth, and then return a few days later to have the final prosthesis fitted. The problem is that for office workers, "please come back in a few days" is easier said than done. There are meetings, business trips, and it is not easy to take time off.

"Doctor... taking annual leave is harder than getting a cavity treated."

We laugh it off in the clinic, but I believe many office workers can relate to this.

How Digital Systems Changed Cavity Treatment

In the past, when a deep cavity required prosthetic treatment, the standard process was to remove the decay, take an impression, use a temporary crown, and return a few days later for the final restoration. Of course, in cases where it is necessary, this process is still the most appropriate treatment.

However, as digital dental systems have advanced, things have changed for suitable cases. With a digital intraoral scanner that precisely scans the teeth and an in-house system capable of fabricating ceramic restorations, it is now possible in some cases to proceed from cavity treatment to tooth restoration within a single day.

The important point here is that this is not done unconditionally in one day. We first check the extent of the cavity, whether root canal treatment is needed, and the condition of the gums and teeth, before determining whether same-day treatment is possible.

In other words, rather than rushing the treatment, we actively utilize digital systems when they can reduce waiting time and the number of visits.

Why Is Same-Day Treatment Now Possible?

Many people wonder: "Why is it possible in one day now, when it used to take several days?"

The reason is not that we treat faster. In the past, after removing the decay, a mold of the tooth had to be taken and sent to a dental lab to fabricate the prosthesis, and then the patient had to return to the clinic to have it fitted. This process naturally required several days and often multiple visits.

Recently, however, with digital intraoral scanners that precisely scan the teeth, computer-aided design, and in-house digital equipment capable of fabricating ceramic restorations, this entire process can be completed in a single day for suitable cases.

That is to say, the treatment steps have not been skipped; rather, the way restorations are made has changed.

The Real Advantage of Digital One-Day Treatment

Patients sometimes ask, "Doctor, so everything including the fitting is finished today?"

Before introducing the digital same-day prosthesis system at ARC Dental, I thought of it simply as "fast equipment." But in actual practice, the biggest advantage turned out to be reducing the burden on patients of having to take time out of their busy schedules to visit the dentist again.

This is especially meaningful in busy areas like Gwanghwamun, Jongno, and Euljiro. For those who find it hard to take a day off for meetings, have business trips scheduled, or visit during lunch breaks, reducing the number of visits itself becomes a significant benefit.

The Same-Day Cavity Treatment and Tooth Restoration Process

So, how does same-day cavity treatment and one-day tooth restoration work? It is not as special as you might think. Rather, it is the existing treatment process connected a little more efficiently.

First, we check the extent of the cavity and remove the decay thoroughly. When prosthetic treatment is needed, instead of biting down on impression material, we use a digital intraoral scanner to precisely capture the tooth. Then we design a restoration matched to the patient's tooth on the computer, and fabricate the ceramic restoration using in-house digital equipment. Once the prosthesis is complete, we verify the color and bite one more time before cementing it to the tooth to finish the treatment.

At first, the process may seem more involved than expected, but in reality, most of the time is spent fabricating the prosthesis. That is why some patients take a short break or grab a meal during treatment, and others handle simple work nearby before returning. I have even had patients who went for a walk around Cheonggyecheon.

Treatment Principles, and Time

To be honest, when I introduced the digital one-day system, what I most looked forward to was not "treatment that ends quickly." There was something I had always felt sorry about while practicing.

After thoroughly removing the decay and finishing the treatment well, the last thing I always said to patients was similar: "You will need to visit one more time next week." Of course, this is a necessary step. But seeing patients check their calendars or reschedule on their phones as they leave the clinic, I often thought that one extra visit could be a bigger burden for office workers than expected.

Since introducing the digital system, when conditions are suitable, rather than rushing the treatment, I have focused more on reducing waiting time for patients.

The interesting thing is patients' reactions. After the prosthesis is completed and fitted, the most common thing they say is:

"Is it already done?"

From our perspective, it is not a special event. The treatment process is not very different from before. What has changed is only the way the prosthesis is made. By switching to digital scanning, computer design, and in-house fabrication within the clinic, the waiting time has been reduced.

Since starting practice in Gwanghwamun, I have felt this advantage even more. People who come during lunch break and head back to the office. People who receive treatment before an afternoon meeting. People who visit before a business trip to get their teeth treated in advance. The clinic is filled with office workers with diverse schedules and stories.

That is why, at ARC Dental Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we believe digital one-day treatment is not "treatment that ends quickly," but "treatment that can save a little more time for office workers."

Of course, what matters most here is not finishing quickly. No matter how quickly a prosthesis is made, if it does not fit the tooth accurately, it cannot be called good treatment. That is why, at ARC Dental, before cementing the prosthesis, we check the fit, the bite, and harmony with surrounding teeth one by one before proceeding with the final bonding. Creating a tooth that can be used comfortably for a long time is far more important than rushing the treatment.

Can Every Cavity Be Treated in One Day?

To give you the conclusion first: no. During consultations, I sometimes get asked, "Doctor, can I finish everything today too?" Honestly, I wish I could simply say yes.

However, dental treatment varies for every patient, so it cannot be explained so simply. For example, if the cavity has progressed deep enough to require root canal treatment, the situation changes. There are cases where we need to monitor the inflammatory status inside the tooth, and cases where it is better to observe the condition for a certain period rather than covering the tooth with a final prosthesis immediately. Also, if the cavity is very extensive or the tooth is more broken than expected, the treatment plan may change.

That is why, at ARC Dental, rather than asking "Is same-day treatment possible?" first, we think about "What is the most appropriate treatment for this tooth right now?" In other words, "whether same-day cavity treatment is possible is not decided by the dental clinic, but by the condition of the tooth." Our role is to accurately diagnose that condition and explain the most appropriate treatment method to the patient.

What is important is not finishing in one day, but providing treatment that can be used comfortably for a long time. That is the direction of digital one-day treatment at ARC Dental.

When I meet patients in the clinic, I sometimes feel that I am not just treating teeth, but also treating time together. For some, taking half a day off is difficult; for others, one additional visit is a burden. That is why ARC Dental continues to think about how to save even a little of our patients' time while upholding the principles of treatment.

I hope this article helps those who have been putting off cavity treatment in their busy daily lives.

Teeth must last a long time, and with a heart that wants to save your time, Dr. Jaeho Jeon of ARC Dental is treating patients today as well.

Dr. Jaeho Jeon, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Specialist, Visiting Professor at Seoul National University Dental Hospital, ARC Dental Clinic. Thank you for reading.

Frequently Asked Questions — Same-Day Cavity Treatment & Tooth Restoration at ARC Dental