Crowns

When would you need a dental crown?

Crowns serve several purposes. You may need a dental crown to:

• Strengthen a weak tooth.
• Protect and support a cracked tooth.
• Restore a worn-down or broken tooth.
• Hold a dental bridge in place.
• Cover a severely stained or discolored tooth.
• Cover a root canal-treated tooth.
• Cover a dental implant.

What happens during a dental crown procedure?

Dental crown placement usually requires two appointments:

First visit

Steps for a dental crown procedure include:

• Preparing your tooth. To prepare your tooth for a crown, your dentist will need to remove some of your natural enamel. This makes space for your new crown and ensures that it will stay in place once bonded. Your dentist may also use a filling material to build up certain parts of your tooth. During this step, the main goal is to create a strong foundation for your new crown.
• Dental impressions. Next, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth. These may be physical impressions taken with a putty-like material or digital impressions taken with a handheld scanner. Your dentist will send these impressions to a dental lab. There, a technician will use them to create your custom dental crown.
• Temporary crown placement. It usually takes two to three weeks — sometimes longer — for a dental lab to make your new crown. While you wait on your final crown, your dentist will place a temporary one. Temporary crowns are usually made of resin or acrylic.

Second visit

When the lab finishes your new crown, they’ll send it back to your dentist’s office. During a second office visit, your dentist will:

• Remove your temporary crown.
• Check the shape, color and fit of your new crown.
• Bond the new crown to your tooth using a strong dental cement.