A crown is a protective shell that is made to cover all or part of a tooth that has been lost due to decay or fracture. A crown can be made of different materials, usually of porcelain, metal, or resin, depending on the location of the tooth that is being restored.
Fitting a crown is two-step procedure, similar to fitting a veneer. There's one big difference: to prepare for the crown, more of your tooth is removed. Your dentist can crown more than one tooth at time. During this 1-2 hour visit, your dentist prepares your tooth - removing enamel and dentin to allow room for the crown. You'll be given anesthesia beforehand. After preparation, your dentist makes a model for your teeth and gums. During the 1 to 3 weeks between visits, the laboratory uses the model to custom-make your crown. You'll wear a temporary crown to protect your tooth. To prevent this crown from coming loose, don't chew gum and avoid hard or chewy candy. Your dentist may take less than an hour to apply your crowns. Your dentist removes the temporary crown and fits the permanent crown onto your tooth. Then cements are applied and the crown is positioned securely onto you tooth.