No Insurance? No Problem! See How Our Discount Membership Plans Can Help.
Learn More
Updated: February 26, 2025
Dental crowns instantly restore damaged teeth' strength, appearance, and function, making them a popular choice in dental care.
Understanding the entire crown process, from the initial consultation to long-term care, can help you make informed decisions and optimize your treatment outcomes.
This guide walks you through each step of getting a crown and provides maintenance tips to ensure your investment lasts for years. With the right knowledge and professional guidance, achieving a functional, natural-looking smile is within reach.
During your initial consultation, the dentist conducts a thorough oral examination to assess the health of the tooth in question and surrounding tissues. This exam is essential to determine if the tooth can support a crown or if additional dental work is necessary.
Your dentist will discuss crown materials such as ceramic, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or metal. These materials vary in aesthetics, functionality, durability, and price. The choice depends on the tooth's location, the patient's bite, and aesthetic preferences.
The dental team should provide a detailed cost estimate. This includes the price of the crown itself and any necessary preparatory procedures. Understanding the costs upfront helps you manage your financial planning more effectively.
The timeline for completion is also outlined during this consultation. Typically, the process spans a few weeks, involving multiple visits for tooth preparation, crown fitting, and adjustments to ensure a perfect fit and function.
Once the initial consultation is complete, the dentist prepares the tooth for a crown. This phase is critical to ensure the crown fits securely and functions properly.
First, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to numb the area around the tooth to minimize discomfort. Work will not begin until the anesthetic has taken full effect.
The next step involves tooth shaping, where the dentist reshapes the natural tooth to create a stable base for the crown. This typically involves trimming and filing down the tooth's enamel to the desired shape, which allows the crown to sit snugly over it.
After preparing the tooth, the dentist takes dental impressions, which is a necessary step for crafting a precise and comfortable crown.
This procedure involves selecting the appropriate material options for the impression, which vary in consistency and setting times to accommodate different patient needs and preferences.
Common materials include alginate, polyether, and silicone-based compounds. Each offers unique benefits regarding flexibility, taste, and allergy considerations.
The dentist will carefully inspect the impression for any bubbles, voids, or imperfections that could distort the final crown. The impression must capture the full anatomy of the prepared tooth and the surrounding teeth and gum line.
This accuracy is essential to achieving a crown that fits seamlessly without causing issues with bite or alignment. A digital scan may also be needed to guide the lab when creating the crown.
While the final crown is being created, the placement of a temporary crown protects the prepared tooth and maintains the integrity of the patient's bite.
The temporary crown, typically made from acrylic-based materials, is designed to mimic the shape and size of the natural tooth, ensuring that the patient can continue to chew and speak comfortably.
However, the durability isn't equivalent to that of the final crown. You must be cautious with a temporary crown to prevent damage or dislodgement and ensure it serves its purpose effectively until the permanent crown is ready.
It's common for patients to experience some sensitivity or discomfort after the placement. Avoiding overly hot or cold foods can mitigate discomfort.
Proper care involves gentle brushing around the crown and using non-abrasive toothpaste to avoid dislodging it.
To ensure the durability of the temporary crown, avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods that could pull the crown loose or break it.
To fabricate a dental crown, the lab creates a precise model of the patient's prepped tooth from the impression or digital scan provided by the dentist. This model serves as a guide for creating a crown that fits precisely over the tooth.
Using the model, the lab technician designs the crown, factoring in proper size, shape, and alignment to match the patient's bite.
For added precision, many labs use CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and manufacturing) technology to design and mill the crown digitally, particularly with materials like ceramic or zirconia.
After designing, the lab selects the material, such as porcelain, metal, or composite resin, depending on the dentist’s specifications. The chosen material is shaped and refined, either manually or with milling machines.
For porcelain and ceramic crowns, the lab may apply layers of color to mimic the natural tooth shade. Once the crown is shaped, it’s fired or hardened in a high-temperature furnace to achieve durability.
Afterward, the crown is polished or glazed, inspected for quality, and sent to the dentist for final fitting and adjustments.
Once the dental lab completes the crown fabrication, the crown is ready for the final placement. The process of final crown placement is precise, requiring a keen eye and skilled hands.
The dentist initially places the crown on the affected tooth to check for accurate fit and comfort. The crown must align well with the bite and adjacent teeth to avoid any future complications.
Minor adjustments are often necessary. The dentist carefully reshapes or trims the crown using specialized tools, ensuring it fits seamlessly into the patient's dental arch. This step is critical for the functionality and longevity of the crown.
Finally, the crown is securely cemented in place, restoring the tooth's function and appearance. The dental team will explain proper maintenance and care to ensure the crown remains durable for years to come.
After receiving a dental crown, patients typically experience immediate improvements in the treated tooth's appearance and functionality. However, understanding the recovery timeline and being aware of potential complications are essential for post-procedure care.
Initially, it's common for patients to notice mild sensitivity or discomfort around the treated area. This is generally manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers and should subside within a few days.
Maintaining diligent oral hygiene is critical during this recovery period to prevent complications.
The gum around the crown may feel tender or swollen during the first few weeks after the procedure. If this discomfort persists or worsens, notify your dentist, as this could indicate an infection or improper fit of the crown.
Patients should be aware of signs that may suggest issues with the crown, such as a feeling of looseness, a noticeable gap between the crown and the gum, or pain when chewing.
These symptoms require a prompt professional assessment to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the crown.
Diligent oral hygiene practices are instrumental in extending the lifespan of your dental crown. Adhering to these guidelines will support optimal functionality and aesthetics, thus safeguarding your smile's brilliance.
Getting a dental crown is more than just restoring a tooth; it's an investment in oral health and confidence. By understanding each stage—from consultation to final placement and post-care—you’re well-equipped to maintain the crown’s durability and aesthetics.
With regular dental visits, proper hygiene, and mindful habits, your dental crown can offer lasting protection and enhance your smile for years to come. Trusting in a skilled dental team will make all the difference in your crown's longevity and the overall success of your restorative journey.
Looking to restore and protect your smile? Forever Dental offers durable, natural-looking dental crowns in Chicago to repair damaged teeth and improve functionality. Book your consultation for dental crown treatment in Archer Heights, Chicago or visit us for dental crown services in Brighton Park, Chicago today. A strong, healthy smile is just an appointment away!
Preparing for a dental crown involves reshaping the tooth by removing decayed or damaged areas. Your dentist should take an impression to ensure a custom fit. In most cases, a temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth, while a permanent one is made.
Getting a dental crown usually requires two separate visits. During the first visit, your tooth is prepared, and impressions are taken. The second visit, typically 1–2 weeks later, involves fitting and cementing the permanent crown, although some offices offer same-day crowns.
Receiving a crown is generally not painful. Dentists use local anesthesia to numb the area, ensuring comfort during tooth preparation. You might experience minor soreness after the procedure, but it’s temporary and manageable with over-the-counter pain relief as needed.
A root canal isn’t always needed for a crown. It’s only required if the tooth pulp is infected or damaged. In such cases, a root canal is performed first to remove infection, and then the tooth can be prepared and fitted with a temporary crown until the permanent crown is ready to install.
