What to Expect When Getting a Dental Crown

X-rays or Digital Scans: These help evaluate the tooth’s roots, bone structure, and ensure there’s no infection or decay beneath the surface.

Treatment Planning: If the tooth is deemed suitable for a crown, the dentist will discuss the type of crown (porcelain, zirconia, gold, etc.) that best suits your needs based on function, aesthetics, and budget.

Mock ups: if the crown or crowns are in the aesthetic zone, or it is a planned improvement of the appearance of the teeth, such as a smile design, there will be a digital or intra oral mock up stage where the dentist can demonstrate the shape and colour of the proposed work (with some limitations). An additional appointment is usually required for this.

Local Anaesthesia: The area is numbed to ensure you're comfortable throughout the procedure. A numbing gel can be used beforehand to help making the numbing process as painless as possible.

Tooth Reshaping: The dentist carefully removes a portion of the outer tooth surface to make space for the crown. This involves:

Removing decayed or weakened areas

Reshaping the tooth into a slightly tapered form so the crown can fit snugly

Grooves and boxes may be added to give the crown extra grip

Build-Up (if needed): If a large portion of the tooth is missing, a core build-up may be done using composite or a similar material to provide a solid foundation for the crown. In some cases a post may be cemented into the root to provide extra anchorage.

Gum Management: If necessary, a retraction cord or gentle laser may be used to move the gum away from the tooth to ensure a clean impression.

Accurate impressions are critical to creating a crown that fits perfectly.

Traditional Impressions: A putty-like material is used in trays to take molds of your upper and lower teeth.

Digital Scanning: Alternatively, many modern practices use intraoral scanners to create 3D images of your teeth.

Bite Registration: Your dentist will also record how your teeth bite together to ensure the new crown aligns properly with your natural bite.

While your permanent crown is being crafted in a dental lab (which typically takes 1–2 weeks), a temporary crown will be placed.

Fabrication of Temporary Crown: Usually made from acrylic or composite resin, the temporary crown protects your tooth and maintains aesthetics.

Temporary Cementation: It is bonded with a weaker cement so it can be easily removed later.

Care Instructions: You’ll be advised to avoid sticky or hard foods and to take extra care when flossing and brushing around the temporary crown.

Once your crown is ready, you’ll return for the final fitting.

Local Anaesthesia: the area may need to be numbed again as detailed above.

Removal of Temporary Crown: The dentist gently removes the temporary crown and cleans the underlying tooth.

Trial Fit: The new crown is placed on the tooth to check for:

Fit and margins

Comfort

Bite alignment

Colour and aesthetics

Minor Adjustments: If necessary, slight modifications are made to ensure proper occlusion (how your teeth come together). If more major adjustments are required, the crown may be remade, and it may be necessary to further prepare the tooth and take new scans/impressions.

Once the crown fits perfectly, it’s time to cement it in place.

Tooth Preparation: The surface of the tooth is cleaned and dried thoroughly.

Bonding: A strong dental cement is used to permanently fix the crown onto the prepared tooth.

Final Checks: After the cement sets, your dentist will check your bite again and make final adjustments to ensure comfort.