The Procedure

Before you decide whether or not to have a crown you will need to have a consultation with a dentist to see if the procedure is suitable for you. It may well be that a less invasive option like veneers or dental bonding may be more suitable. Once you and your dentists have agreed to go ahead the dentist will prepare the tooth by removing any decay and reshape it using a special drill to allow the crown to be placed over it. This will be done under local anaesthetic. An impression will then be taken of your tooth/teeth being crowned. This will be sent off to a dental lab so the crown can be made. This process can take between two and three weeks so you will usually be fitted with a temporary crown.

Once your crown has been made you will need to come back to your dentist for it to be fitted. Once your dentist has checked that it is the right size, shape and colour match it will be cemented into place. This process may be slightly different if you are having the crown to anchor a dental bridge or as a dental implant restoration.

Crowns will usually last 10-15 years after which time you will need to have them replaced. Some people also opt to replace their crowns earlier for aesthetic reasons, particularly to replace a metal crown with a porcelain or ceramic crown which looks more natural. The results you will get from having a crown or crowns fitted will depend on how well you look after your teeth. Like your natural teeth, the more you look after them, the longer they will last.