Dental crowns
Rebuilding a damaged tooth, from the outside in
A precision-fit porcelain crown that looks like your natural tooth and protects what's underneath. Two-visit process, lab-fabricated.
When you need a crown
- A cracked or broken tooth that's too damaged for a filling but still has healthy roots.
- A tooth with a very large filling that's at risk of fracturing under chewing forces.
- After a root canal — the treated tooth becomes brittle over time, and a crown protects it from breaking.
- A worn-down tooth from grinding or acid erosion.
- A cosmetic concern — a misshapen, discolored, or undersized tooth.
- An implant restoration — the crown sits on top of the implant once the post has integrated with the bone.
The two-visit process
- Visit 1 (about 75 minutes): We numb the tooth, gently shape it to receive the crown, take digital impressions, and place a temporary crown. You leave with a protected, functional tooth.
- Between visits (1–2 weeks): A dental lab fabricates your custom crown using the impressions we sent. The lab matches the color, shape, and translucency of your surrounding teeth.
- Visit 2 (about 45 minutes): We remove the temporary, check the fit of the permanent crown, make any small adjustments, and cement it permanently.
Material choices
Most modern crowns are porcelain (great cosmetics, used widely on front teeth and visible back teeth) or zirconia (very strong, ideal for back teeth that take heavy chewing forces). We pick the material based on the tooth's location, your bite, and how visible the tooth is when you smile.
Caring for your crown
- Brush and floss as you would your natural teeth — crowns can't decay, but the tooth and gum line under them still can.
- Avoid biting down on hard things — ice, popcorn kernels, hard candy, pens. Porcelain is strong, but it can chip.
- If you grind your teeth at night, wear the night guard we make for you.
- Keep up with six-month cleanings — we'll check the margins of your crown and the gum line around it.
Common questions
Frequently asked
- What is a dental crown?
- A crown is a custom-made cap that covers the entire visible part of a tooth, restoring its shape, strength, and appearance. Modern crowns are most often made from porcelain or zirconia and are color-matched to your surrounding teeth.
- When does a tooth need a crown?
- Common reasons: a tooth that's broken or fractured, a tooth with a very large filling that's at risk of cracking, a tooth that's had a root canal, a worn-down tooth, or a cosmetic improvement to a misshapen tooth.
- How long does it take to get a crown?
- Traditionally two visits. At the first visit, we prepare the tooth, take impressions, and place a temporary crown. The permanent crown is fabricated at a dental lab (1–2 weeks) and cemented at the second visit.
- Will the crown look natural?
- Yes — modern porcelain and zirconia crowns are color-matched, shape-matched, and translucent enough to look indistinguishable from your natural teeth. Even up close, well-made crowns blend in.
- How long do crowns last?
- With good home care, crowns typically last 10 to 20 years, and many last much longer. Avoiding hard foods (ice, hard candy), wearing a night guard if you grind, and keeping up with routine cleanings extends the lifespan.
- Does the procedure hurt?
- Not the procedure itself — we use local anesthetic, so you'll feel pressure but not pain. Some sensitivity to temperature and pressure is normal for a few weeks after, and that usually fades after the permanent crown is cemented.
- Can I get a crown after a root canal?
- Yes — and usually you should. A root canal treated tooth becomes more brittle over time and a crown protects it from fracture. Most root canals on back teeth are followed by a crown within a few weeks.
- Does my insurance cover crowns?
- Most dental insurance covers a portion of a crown when it's medically necessary — typically 50% after your deductible, up to your annual maximum. We'll verify your benefits and give you an estimate before scheduling.
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