Dental Crowns

Crowns can rebuild teeth that are missing or badly broken down, while some front teeth with a lighter bite may instead suit a veneer.

Tooth preparation is carried out with local anaesthetic, so the tooth and treatment area are numbed during the dental-chair appointment.

Porcelain can fracture, with crown fracture reported most often among all-ceramic materials; posterior teeth, especially molars, show higher fracture rates than anterior teeth.

Reported outcomes differ by material: one study found 0.2% of porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns failed from fracture over an average 13 service-years, while another found 2.6% chipped within five years.

Preparation takes about 1 to 2 hours; the tooth is filed, impressions are taken for the laboratory, and a temporary crown protects it before fitting.

The temporary crown is removed when the permanent one is ready about two weeks later, then the permanent restoration is cemented in place.

A tooth may sometimes be rebuilt with white filling material that bonds to enamel; a porcelain veneer may suit a front tooth where the bite is not heavy.

Long-term care includes hygiene appointments, and a loose crown is managed through ongoing dental care with referral back when further review is needed.

Crown treatment usually includes a shaping and impression visit, a temporary crown, then fitting of the laboratory-made permanent crown.