Dental Crowns

When a tooth is damaged but not lost, a crown is used to cover the damaged part of the tooth. Crowns protect these teeth from further damage.

You may need a crown if:

• A tooth has had a root canal
• A tooth has a large filling
• A tooth is broken
• A tooth is badly stained, not the right shape or out of line

Crowns are made of different metals, porcelain or porcelain fused to metal. They are strong and last from 10 to 20 years, if you take good care of them. Brush and floss your crown, just like you clean your natural teeth.

But crowns and replacement teeth may not be as strong as your natural teeth, so:

• do not bite down on hard objects
• do not use your teeth to open or cut things
• do not do these things with your natural teeth either

How a crown is made:

Step 1
Your dentist may make a mold (or an impression) of your tooth to fit a temporary crown. It protects your tooth until the final, permanent crown is ready. Temporary crowns may not have the same shape and colour as permanent ones.

Step 2
The area around the tooth is frozen and the tooth is filed down to make room for the crown.

Step 3
An impression is taken of the filed-down tooth and nearby teeth. Then a temporary crown is placed over your tooth.

Step 4
This impression is sent to a dental lab, where your permanent crown is custom-made. The impression of your tooth is used to make a model. A restoration that is the same size and shape as your tooth is built based on the model.

Step 5
On a subsequent visit the temporary crown is removed and the permanent crown is placed on to the prepared tooth. The dentist then checks that the crown is the right fit, shape and colour. If it is, then the crown is cemented into place. Your tooth will look and work very much like a natural tooth.

These are the steps dentists most often follow in making a crown, but your tooth may need special care. You may need orthodontic treatment or gum treatment. It may take more than two visits to your dentist or your visits may last longer.