Cosmetic Dentistry
Porcelain Crowns
Durable, natural-looking crowns that restore and protect a damaged tooth.
A porcelain crown is a custom cap that covers the visible part of a tooth. It restores strength, shape, and appearance when a tooth has a large fracture or extensive decay, or has turned brittle, which often happens after a root canal. At that point the tooth needs full coverage to hold together and work normally.
Saving more tooth when we can
Fitting a crown means removing more tooth structure than a filling or onlay would. That’s the main reason we don’t reach for one quickly. We first ask whether a filling, inlay, or onlay could protect the tooth while keeping more of it. When the answer is no, a crown is the restoration that protects it best.
Here’s how that can play out. Imagine a back molar with an old filling and a crack through one cusp, the raised point on the chewing surface. If the crack is contained and the rest of the tooth is solid, an onlay covering that cusp may be enough. If it runs into several walls of the tooth, a crown is the safer choice.
A crown also needs a healthy foundation. The root and surrounding bone have to be strong enough to support it. During your exam we’ll show you what we see and explain why a crown is or isn’t the right step.
From the first visit to the final fit
Placing a crown usually takes a couple of visits. We numb the tooth, shape it, and take an impression or digital scan, and you’ll often go home with a temporary crown while the permanent one is made. At the follow-up we fit the porcelain, check your bite, and adjust until it feels like your own tooth. Some mild sensitivity afterward is normal. It usually settles quickly.
Frequently asked questions
- When do I actually need a crown?
- A crown makes sense when a tooth is too damaged or weakened for a filling, inlay, or onlay to hold reliably — for example after a large fracture or root canal. If a more conservative repair will do the job, we'll recommend that first.
- Will a porcelain crown look like my other teeth?
- Porcelain crowns are matched to the shape and shade of your natural teeth, so they blend in and are hard to spot. Our goal is a restoration that looks and functions like your own tooth.
- How long do crowns last?
- With good oral hygiene and regular checkups, crowns often last many years. Avoiding chewing on very hard objects and treating grinding, if you have it, helps them last.
- Does getting a crown hurt?
- The tooth is numbed during treatment, so the process is comfortable. Some mild sensitivity afterward is normal and usually settles quickly.