Wearing a crown 

A 

Wearing a crown 

A 

crown, sometimes called a cap, is a tooth-shaped 

restoration that 

fits over an existing tooth or an 

artificial tooth root, called an implant. It can be used 

in several situations: 

n To cover a misshaped, damaged, or discolored tooth 

n To provide a hard outer shield to a tooth that is weakened 

because of a large filling or a dental treatment, like a root 

canal 

n When mounted on a dental implant, to fill a space left by a 

missing tooth 

n On either side of an artificial tooth to support a bridge. 

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MATERIAL 

A crown can be made to look like the tooth it is replacing. 

Often, a crown is made with a tooth-colored material that 

matches your teeth. Tooth-colored crowns can be made out of 

ceramic, porcelain, or composite resin. In some cases, a metal 

crown will be placed. Metal crowns can be made with gold or a 

silver-colored metal, like stainless steel or nickel. You and your 

dentist can talk about the type of material that will be best for 

your crown. Some factors you might consider include 

n the location of the crown and how much of it will show 

when you smile 

n the function of the crown, for example, whether it will it be 

in the back where there is a lot of pressure during chewing 

n the color and appearance of the surrounding teeth 

n the cost. 

You may also talk about insurance coverage with your 

dentist. Some of these materials are more expensive than 

others. 

PLACING A CROWN 

Some crowns, like those made of stainless steel, are already 

tooth shaped and can be placed in 1 appointment. Others, like 

those made of composite resin, require 2 or more appointments 

to complete treatment. For example, when the crown is being 

placed over a natural tooth, your dentist will need to prepare 

the tooth that is serving as the base. That tooth may need to 

have some structure removed, or it may need to be built up 

with dental materials so that the crown will fit snugly and in 

line with the surrounding teeth. 

Once the tooth is prepared for the crown, your dentist will 

likely make an impression. Most often, the dentist will use a 

mouth-shaped tray full of a thick liquid that quickly turns to a 

rubbery solid. He or she will place the tray in your mouth to 

get an impression of the space where the crown will 

fi 

t. Once 

the impression has been made, it is 

filled with a plaster material that makes a model for a dental laboratory to 

fi 

t with a 

crown. Some dental offices have computers that can make the 

crown in 1 appointment without an impression. 

It may take as long as 2 weeks to make the permanent crown 

using an impression. To protect your mouth during that time, 

your dentist may make a temporary crown. This crown can 

protect the tooth preparation and the space intended to be 

filled with the crown. Because it may not fit as well as the 

final crown, the natural tooth underneath may be sensitive to 

heat and cold. Avoid chewing gum and sticky foods while 

you have the temporary crown to help it stay in place. Talk to 

your dentist about how to care for your teeth when your 

temporary crown or crown mounted to an implant is in place. 

CONCLUSION 

Crowns or caps are restorations that look like teeth and are 

made to fit over a specially prepared tooth or a dental implant. 

Crowns can be used to repair teeth that are misshapen, 

damaged, or weakened because of large fillings or root canal 

treatment. They also can be mounted on an artificial tooth 

root, called an implant, to fill the space left by a missing tooth, 

or they can be cemented on each side of a space to support an 

artificial tooth. Crowns can be made of tooth-colored materials or metal. Factors like appearance, strength, and cost 

might influence which material you and your dentist select for 

your crown. In some cases, it will take more than 1 appointment to make and place your crown. n

n When mounted on a dental implant, to fill a space left by a 

missing tooth 

n On either side of an artificial tooth to support a bridge. 

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MATERIAL 

A crown can be made to look like the tooth it is replacing. 

Often, a crown is made with a tooth-colored material that 

matches your teeth. Tooth-colored crowns can be made out of 

ceramic, porcelain, or composite resin. In some cases, a metal 

crown will be placed. Metal crowns can be made with gold or a 

silver-colored metal, like stainless steel or nickel. You and your 

dentist can talk about the type of material that will be best for 

your crown. Some factors you might consider include 

n the location of the crown and how much of it will show 

when you smile 

n the function of the crown, for example, whether it will it be 

in the back where there is a lot of pressure during chewing 

n the color and appearance of the surrounding teeth 

n the cost. 

You may also talk about insurance coverage with your 

dentist. Some of these materials are more expensive than 

others. 

PLACING A CROWN 

Some crowns, like those made of stainless steel, are already 

tooth shaped and can be placed in 1 appointment. Others, like 

those made of composite resin, require 2 or more appointments 

to complete treatment. For example, when the crown is being 

placed over a natural tooth, your dentist will need to prepare 

the tooth that is serving as the base. That tooth may need to 

have some structure removed, or it may need to be built up 

with dental materials so that the crown will fit snugly and in 

line with the surrounding teeth. 

Once the tooth is prepared for the crown, your dentist will 

likely make an impression. Most often, the dentist will use a 

mouth-shaped tray full of a thick liquid that quickly turns to a 

rubbery solid. He or she will place the tray in your mouth to 

get an impression of the space where the crown will 

fi 

t. Once 

the impression has been made, it is 

filled with a plaster material that makes a model for a dental laboratory to 

fi 

t with a 

crown. Some dental offices have computers that can make the 

crown in 1 appointment without an impression. 

It may take as long as 2 weeks to make the permanent crown 

using an impression. To protect your mouth during that time, 

your dentist may make a temporary crown. This crown can 

protect the tooth preparation and the space intended to be 

filled with the crown. Because it may not fit as well as the 

final crown, the natural tooth underneath may be sensitive to 

heat and cold. Avoid chewing gum and sticky foods while 

you have the temporary crown to help it stay in place. Talk to 

your dentist about how to care for your teeth when your 

temporary crown or crown mounted to an implant is in place. 

CONCLUSION 

Crowns or caps are restorations that look like teeth and are 

made to fit over a specially prepared tooth or a dental implant. 

Crowns can be used to repair teeth that are misshapen, 

damaged, or weakened because of large fillings or root canal 

treatment. They also can be mounted on an artificial tooth 

root, called an implant, to fill the space left by a missing tooth, 

or they can be cemented on each side of a space to support an 

artificial tooth. Crowns can be made of tooth-colored materials or metal. Factors like appearance, strength, and cost 

might influence which material you and your dentist select for 

your crown. In some cases, it will take more than 1 appointment to make and place your crown.