Getting a Crown: What Happens at Each Appointment
This page is for anyone about to have a dental crown. In general, the tooth is shaped first and the finished crown is usually fitted at a later appointment. It sets out NHS and dental school guidance on each appointment, caring for a temporary crown and what to do if it comes off, with Deepcar Dental Care's visit count, lifespan range and aftercare cover.
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Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, principal dentist at Deepcar Dental Care and a General Dental Practitioner (GDC 301711), reviewed this page.
What is the dental crown procedure?
The dental crown procedure usually has two stages: the tooth is shaped and recorded, then the finished crown is fitted at a later appointment.
Bristol Dental School describes crown treatment as usually taking two appointments, one to prepare the tooth and one to cement the crown.
What happens at the first crown appointment?
At the first crown appointment, Bristol Dental School's typical stages include numbing, moulds, shaping and a temporary crown.
It lists the stages in this order:
- The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic to keep you comfortable.
- A mould of your teeth is taken to help the laboratory recreate your natural bite.
- The tooth is shaped so that a crown can be fitted.
- Another mould is taken, which is used to make the crown.
- A temporary crown is made and fitted on your tooth.
Does having a tooth prepared for a crown hurt?
In Bristol Dental School's typical stages, the tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic before it is prepared, to keep you comfortable.
NHS guidance on local anaesthetic says the dentist makes sure you have the right amount before starting, so you do not feel any pain. If the nerve is healthy and the tooth has not had root canal treatment, Cork University Dental School and Hospital says you might feel some sensitivity during the procedure, which further local anaesthetic can relieve.
What are impressions and digital scans for?
Impressions, also called moulds, record the prepared tooth so that a dental laboratory can make a crown to fit it.
A laboratory then uses the impressions to make the crown, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust explains. The Oral Health Foundation says that, in most cases, fitting a crown takes two visits, with impressions or digital scans taken at the first. How a scan compares with an impression is explained on our page about digital dentistry.
What is a temporary crown for?
A temporary crown protects the prepared tooth while the new crown is being made, Bristol Dental School says.
NHS guidance says you will probably get one until the laboratory has prepared the crown. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust describes the dentist making a temporary crown and cementing it with a temporary cement before you leave, and says the temporary is easily removed when the new crown is fitted.
How do you look after a temporary crown?
Temporary crowns are not as strong as definitive crowns and can be easily broken, Bristol Dental School says.
It says it is important to return for the fit of your definitive crown, as most temporary crowns are not designed to last long. While the tooth is still numb after the preparation appointment, move carefully: NHS guidance says you may not notice if you injure yourself.
Occasionally, a temporary crown can break or become dislodged, Cork University Dental School and Hospital says.
What should you do if a temporary crown comes off?
If a temporary crown breaks or becomes dislodged, contact your dentist immediately, Cork University Dental School and Hospital advises.
NHS 111 Wales advice on a lost crown is to see a dentist and, if you have the crown, keep it safe and take it with you, but not to go to a GP, who cannot give dental treatment.
Our emergency page on recementing a crown that has come off explains when a crown can be refitted.
To ask about dental crowns, book online or call 0114 288 2121.
What happens at the crown fitting appointment?
At the fitting appointment, Bristol Dental School's typical stages include removing the temporary, trying in the new crown and cementing it.
Bristol Dental School says the tooth may be numbed with local anaesthetic for this appointment. The definitive crown is tried in to check the fit and the appearance, and when you and your dentist are happy with it, it is cemented onto your tooth. You may feel some pressure on the tooth while it is cemented, which Bristol says is normal.
How are the fit and bite of a new crown checked?
Before a crown is cemented, it is checked for fit, comfort on biting and appearance, Cork University Dental School and Hospital says.
How a new crown settles in after it is fitted is covered in our guide to crown aftercare.
What are the risks of having a crown?
Bristol Dental School lists damage to the tooth's nerve among the risks of crown treatment.
Where the nerve is present, Bristol puts the chance that it may become inflamed and die at approximately 20%, and says root canal treatment or extraction is then required. Its risks also include gums receding over time, so the crown's edges may become visible, and, if porcelain is used, porcelain fracture, after which the crown needs replacing.
Is numbing gel used before injections at Deepcar Dental Care?
Yes. At Deepcar Dental Care, topical numbing gel is applied before every injection.
How many visits does a crown take at Deepcar Dental Care?
At Deepcar Dental Care, a crown takes 2 to 3 visits, with around 1 week from preparation to fitting.
No overseas laboratory work is used, and work goes to more than one laboratory, chosen to suit the case.
When is a crown placed after root canal treatment at Deepcar Dental Care?
The practice decides case by case when to place a crown after root canal treatment. It is placed soon after where the tooth is at higher risk, or after around 3 months to let the tooth settle, as our page on crowns after root canal treatment explains.
What lifespan and aftercare cover apply to crowns at Deepcar Dental Care?
At Deepcar Dental Care, the realistic lifespan range for a crown is 5 to 20 years. Outcomes depend on the individual patient, their oral hygiene and their habits.
Crowns at the practice carry 12-month aftercare cover. The cover does not apply where damage results from accidental trauma or infection.
Where are crown fees listed?
The practice's fee list on 28 October 2026 includes the line "All Ceramic Crowns & Veneers From £750 - £1000".
The fee list says all its prices are "from" prices, based on individual clinical needs. Our restorative cost page explains what it costs to have a crown fitted.
Where do crowns fit in restorative dentistry?
Crowns belong to repairing and rebuilding damaged teeth, which aims to save natural teeth rather than replace them with implants. When a tooth needs the full coverage of a crown is explained on our main page about dental crowns.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a tooth have to be shaped for a crown?
A tooth is shaped so that there is room for the crown to sit on it. Cork University Dental School and Hospital says the tooth is pared down to allow space for the crown to be positioned onto it, making sure it suits your current bite.
What could you ask your dentist before crown treatment?
Bristol Dental School suggests four questions you may want to ask before crown treatment. They cover which crown colours or materials suit your tooth, how long dental crowns last, how long each appointment will be, and how you can look after your crown.
What should you tell the dentist before the tooth is numbed?
Tell the dentist about any allergies to medicine or other substances, NHS guidance on local anaesthetic says. It adds that the dentist will explain any risks before the procedure, and that local anaesthetics are generally safe, with serious side effects very rare.
Is a crown suitable for everyone?
Not always. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says a crown may not be suitable in some situations, for example in patients with poor oral hygiene, high decay rates, active and extensive gum disease, clenching or grinding of the teeth, minimally restored teeth, or young patients. Your dentist will be able to advise you.
What if you feel anxious about having a crown?
Deepcar Dental Care books longer appointment slots for anxious patients and agrees a stop signal before treatment starts. Music or headphones are offered, and you can bring someone into the room. Our page on care for anxious patients explains more.
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Deepcar Dental Care is at 334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield, S36 2RH, open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday. Patient feedback is on the practice's reviews page.
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Deepcar, Sheffield S36 2RH
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