Over time our teeth begin to weaken and become more susceptible to problems such as decay, cracks, discoloration and others. If your dentist notices that a tooth is decayed or seems weakened/cracked a crown may be necessary to make sure that there are no additional problems with the tooth. In cases like this a filling or bonding will not be sufficient. To maintain a natural look, the final crown will be matched to the shade of your other teeth. This will allow it to blend in and appear just like one of your natural teeth.
The process of installing a crown takes 2 visits to the dentist. On the first visit the tooth will be reshaped. Once the tooth has been reshaped, a digital scan will be taken of that tooth and the surrounding teeth. This digital scan will be sent to a dental lab so that your new crown can be made so that it fits in the spot created for it and looks the same relative to the surrounding teeth. Before leaving, your dentist will fit you with a temporary crown until your permanent crown is ready.