When a tooth is too damaged for a filling, a crown rebuilds it.
A crown is a custom cap that covers the entire visible tooth. It restores shape, strength and appearance, and — more importantly — holds a weakened tooth together so it does not split.
When You Need a Crown
- After a root canal on a back tooth — the tooth becomes brittle without its blood supply and will eventually fracture unprotected
- A large fracture or crack that a filling cannot hold
- Extensive decay leaving too little healthy structure for a filling
- A failing large old filling where the remaining tooth walls are thin
- On top of a dental implant — the crown is the visible tooth
- As part of a bridge, anchoring it to the teeth either side
The Process
Visit one
The tooth is frozen and shaped to make room for the crown. We take an impression or digital scan, choose a shade to match your neighbouring teeth, and fit a temporary crown while the permanent one is made.
Between visits
The permanent crown is fabricated. Temporaries are held with weaker cement by design — avoid very sticky food on that side, and if it comes off, keep it and contact us.
Visit two
The temporary comes off, we check the fit, colour and bite, and cement the permanent crown in place. Most people are back to normal the same day.
Materials
Porcelain and ceramic — the best appearance, standard for front teeth and increasingly used at the back.
Zirconia — extremely strong with good aesthetics. Well suited to molars and to patients who grind.
Porcelain fused to metal — strong, though a dark line can eventually show at the gumline as gums recede.
Gold — exceptionally durable and kind to the opposing tooth. Rarely chosen now for appearance, but clinically still excellent for a back molar.
We will recommend based on which tooth, how hard you bite, and how visible it is.
Cost and Coverage
Crown cost varies by material and by whether any build-up is needed underneath before the crown can be fitted. See fees and payment — and budget for the crown alongside the root canal if you are having one, since the two go together.
Most private plans cover crowns partially, often at 50 percent. We submit a predetermination first. See insurance and direct billing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do crowns last?
Commonly 10 to 15 years, often longer. Grinding, decay at the margin, and gum recession are what shorten that.
Will it look natural?
Porcelain and zirconia crowns are shade-matched and difficult to distinguish from a natural tooth.
Does getting a crown hurt?
No — the tooth is frozen. Some tenderness for a few days afterwards is normal.
Can a crowned tooth still decay?
Yes, at the margin where crown meets tooth. Keep flossing around it and keep up your cleanings.
Do I really need one after a root canal?
On a back tooth, almost always. A treated molar left without a crown frequently fractures, and a fractured one usually has to be extracted. The crown protects the money you already spent.
Crown or veneer?
A crown covers the whole tooth and restores strength. A veneer covers only the front surface and is cosmetic. Damaged teeth need crowns; discoloured but sound teeth may only need veneers.