There are many situations that require a tooth to be restored with a dental crown. When a tooth has a cavity or fracture that involves half the width of the tooth or more, it will need to be covered with a crown, as well as a large filling in the mouth. Root canals almost immediately need to be replaced with a crown to prevent fractures. Other uses for crowns are cracked tooth syndrome, broken cusps, or undesirable appearance of teeth.

When a restoration of a dental crown involves many steps… First, the tooth is numbed and shaved down to make room for the crown. An impression is made of the prepared tooth and the dentist will use a shade guide to ensure it matches your natural teeth. A temporary crown is made from an acrylic material by using a molding of the original tooth. It is then cemented with temporary cement so that it can come of easily for the permanent crown to be placed. A few weeks after the temporary crown is put in, the patient returns for another visit. The permanent crown is then placed on the tooth and is inspected for acceptable fit, bit and smooth margins.

Dental crowns should last a patient on average around 10 to 20 years. Cavities and fractures may still occur to crown capped teeth, which makes it important to brush and floss to prevent them from needing replacement more than usual.