Dental Crowns

What is a “Crown”?

A crown is a cover or “cap” your dentist can put over a tooth. The crown restores the tooth to its normal shape, size, and function. A crown can make the tooth stronger or improve the way it looks.

Reasons you may need a crown:

• You have a cavity that is too large for a filling
• You have a tooth that is cracked, worn down, or otherwise weakened
• You have had root canal treatment — the crown will protect the restored tooth
• You want to cover a discoloured or badly shaped tooth and improve your smile

Crowns are made from several types of materials. Metal alloys, ceramics, porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or composite resin may be used. When a crown is made, the material often is coloured to blend in with your natural teeth.

It usually takes 2 dental visits to complete the treatment. During the first visit, the dentist will prepare the tooth by removing any decay and shape the tooth as necessary. An impression will then be taken to provide an exact model for the laboratory to fabricate the crown. The dentist will make a temporary crown for you until the permanent crown is ready. During the second visit, which is normally scheduled around 2 weeks after the initial visit, the dentist will place the permanent crown in your mouth and do all the checks to make sure it looks beautiful and feels comfortable.