A tooth crown (sometimes known as a dental cap) is an artificial covering that fits over damaged teeth, making them stronger and more attractive. Typically made from porcelain, ceramic or a metal alloy such as gold, the crown is colour matched to your natural teeth. They can be used to repair cracked, broken, or decayed teeth, or to cover a large filling to support the remaining structure of a severely damaged tooth. The crown can also be used to prevent a cracked tooth from spreading or help with the symptoms of chronic clenching and grinding (bruxism).

Emergency Dentist: What to Do When a Dental Crisis Hits

A dental crown is usually fitted at two separate visits. During the first visit the tooth and gum tissue will be numbed to ensure your comfort. The tooth will then be filed down along the chewing surface and sides to make room for the crown. The amount of filing required depends on the type of crown you have selected; all-metal crowns require the least natural tooth structure to be removed, whilst PFM (porcelain-fused-to-metal) and VMK (Vita Metal Keramik) crowns are thicker and need more of the tooth’s structure to be removed.

Your dentist will then either make an impression of the affected tooth with a putty-like material or scan it and create digital data that will serve as a model for your new crown. If they are using a traditional moulding method, the impression will take between three and five minutes to set. They may also give you a temporary crown to wear for protection between visits until the permanent one is ready.