Steps in placing a crown:

1. 1. Your dentist prepares the tooth by removing its outer portion so the crown will fit. Any decay is also removed. If additional tooth structure is needed to support the crown, the dentist may build up the core of the tooth.

2. 2. An impression is made to provide an exact model for the crown.

3. 3. You will get a temporary crown while you wait for the permanent crown to be ready.

4. 4. The dentist or a laboratory technician then uses the model to help make the crown.

When the new crown is ready, your dentist places it in your mouth and makes the necessary adjustments. When you and your dentist are satisfied with how it looks and feels, the crown is cemented in place.

Anterior (front) Crowns

Full porcelain/ceramic crown

Porcelain-fused-to-metal crown

Anterior Crown Placement

Prepared tooth

Crown placed on prepared tooth

Crown in place

Posterior (Rear) Crowns

Full porcelain fused to metal crown

Full gold crown

Full porcelain/ceramic crown

Posterior Crown Placement

Before – Worn filling with decay under filling

Crown is positioned over prepared tooth

After crown placement

Replacing a Filling With a Crown

Before – Amalgam filling with decay at the edge

After – Filling replaced by a crown