If your tooth has a crack that goes all the way through the enamel to the core structure, or if you’ve suffered a fracture from heavy clenching or grinding at night, it will require a crown to strengthen and protect it. A crown is also a common choice for fixing a large cavity, or replacing a filling that has become loose or dislodged.

When a tooth crown to be crowned, the first step is to have it prepped and shaped by your dentist. This involves filing down the chewing surface and sides of the tooth, depending on the type of crown being placed. All-metal crowns require the least amount of natural tooth structure to be removed, and are the strongest option available. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns offer more natural-looking material, but can sometimes show a dark line next to the gums.

Tooth Crowns: When You Need One and What to Expect

Once the tooth is prepared, impressions of it and the opposing teeth will be made (sometimes with a putty-like material, or digitally with a scanner). These will allow the dental technician to construct a tooth replica that fits well within your bite, and matches in colour with the surrounding teeth for a seamless appearance.

Some dental offices are able to offer same-day crown placement through computer-aided design and manufacturing. This method uses a scanning device to capture images of your tooth, which are used by software to create a 3D model of it. This model is sent to a machine that carves your crown out of ceramic in about 15 minutes, and can then be cemented in place. This kind of crown is sometimes called an inlay or onlay.