Understanding the steps involved in dental crown placement for Surrey patients

Dental crowns are one of the most common procedures dentists perform. They are used to repair teeth that have become damaged. Minor damage can sometimes be fixed with bonding. However, cracked, weak, misshapen or broken teeth need a better solution.  

Having a crown fitted takes 2 appointments. The first is for tooth prep, the second is for placement.

Two steps for dental crown placement

1. Tooth preparation. The crown, or cap as it’s sometimes known, slides on top of your original tooth to add strength and hold it together. To facilitate this, the top of your tooth is filed down to make it slightly smaller. The crown can then slide on top. Just like a crown being placed onto a head.
2. Making the crown. An impression is made of the affected tooth and its neighbours to be sent to the lab. There, a crown is made that will blend in seamlessly with your other teeth in size, shape and colour. It generally takes 1-2 weeks for this process to be completed.

While you’re waiting for your crown to be made, we place a temporary crown on your prepared tooth. This is to protect it, and so you can still enjoy normal mouth functions (eating, smiling) for those 1 or 2 weeks. When you return for your dental crown placement, the temporary crown is removed and replaced with the real deal.

There are a few different types of dental crowns including full crowns, but also inlay and onlay partial crowns. Partial crowns help preserve as much of the tooth structure as possible. They come in the material of your choice, generally porcelain, but also gold and PFM (porcelain-fused-to-metal). We talk about all of these in more detail here.

When you come in for dental crowns, Surrey dentists at Riverside Heights Dental will go over every step of the process with you and answer any questions you have. We will help you understand what’s involved so that you are comfortable.

Call your Surrey Dentist, Riverside Heights Dental for more information on crowns for your teeth. Our dentist office is located near the Guildford mall in North Surrey.