Holds a weak tooth together
Holds a cracked, weak or heavily filled tooth together so you can bite and chew without worrying it will break.
Tooth Repair
Dental crowns, to cover and rebuild a tooth
A dental crown is a custom cap that fits over a tooth to cover it, protect it and bring back its shape and strength. If you have a tooth that is cracked, heavily filled, worn down or has had root canal treatment, a crown can hold it together and let you use it normally again. And if a smaller repair would serve the tooth better, we will say so.
The Treatment
A tailored cover for a weak tooth
Think of a crown as a tailored cover that sits over the whole visible part of your tooth. Once it is bonded in place, it takes the load when you bite and chew, so a weak or broken tooth is less likely to split further. A well-made crown also matches the look of your other teeth, so it does its job quietly without standing out. As well as repairing damage, a crown can rebuild a badly discoloured or misshapen tooth where a smaller cosmetic fix would not be enough.
At Day Night Dental we fit crowns for all sorts of reasons, from a back tooth cracked on something hard to a tooth being finished off after root canal treatment. We will check the tooth, talk through what it needs and tell you plainly whether a crown is the right call for it.
A crown usually means two visits, so getting to us needs to be easy. You will find us at 80 Hutcheson Street in Merchant City, a couple of minutes' walk from Argyle Street and Queen Street stations and the St Enoch subway, which makes it simple to fit both appointments around work or the school run.
Is This You?
A tooth that is cracked or crumbling?
A heavily filled, worn or cracked tooth can feel fragile every time you bite. You start chewing on the other side, wince at hot or cold, and worry it will give way at the wrong moment. A crown caps the whole tooth so it can take the load again.
Bring it to us and we will take a proper look, usually with an X-ray, and work out what the tooth actually needs. Sometimes that is the full cover of a crown; sometimes a more conservative repair will protect it just as well. Either way, you will leave knowing where the tooth stands and what your options are.
Why Patients Choose It
Why patients choose a crown
Protects a root-treated tooth
Protects a root-treated tooth, which tends to be more brittle and prone to fracture.
Restores shape and size
Restores the natural shape and size of a tooth that has worn down or broken away.
Blends with your smile
Can be colour-matched to blend in with the teeth around it, especially on front teeth.
Helps you keep the tooth
Often lets you keep a tooth that might otherwise be lost.
How It Works
Your crown journey
01
Assessment
We examine the tooth, usually take an X-ray, and check there is enough healthy tooth to support a crown. If the tooth is badly broken or root-treated, it may first need a build-up, sometimes with a post, to give the crown a solid base.
02
Shaping the tooth
Under local anaesthetic, the tooth is reshaped to make room for the crown. This step removes some healthy tooth structure and cannot be undone, so we only do it once we have agreed it is the right plan.
03
Scan or impression
We take a digital scan or a mould of the prepared tooth and the teeth around it. This is what the laboratory uses to make a crown that fits your bite.
04
Temporary crown
A temporary crown is fitted to protect the tooth and keep things comfortable while the permanent one is being made.
05
Fitting and bonding
At the next visit, we remove the temporary, check the new crown for fit, bite and colour, then bond it firmly in place. We will make small adjustments so it feels right when you bite together.
Caring for your crown
Looking after your crown
A little care, especially in the first few days, helps your crown settle in and last as long as possible.
First 24 hours
- Go easy on the tooth while the cement reaches full strength. Where you can, chew on the other side at first.
- Avoid hard, sticky and chewy foods such as toffee, hard sweets and ice.
First few days
- Ease back to your normal diet as the tooth settles.
- A little sensitivity or an odd feeling when you bite is normal and usually fades. A toothpaste for sensitive teeth can take the edge off in the meantime. If it lingers, the bite feels high, or anything hurts, get in touch so we can check it.
Long term
- Brush twice a day with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste, paying attention to the gum line around the crown.
- Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes. The margin where the crown meets the tooth still needs cleaning to keep decay away.
- If you grind or clench your teeth, ask us about a nightguard to protect the crown.
- Do not use your teeth to bite pens, nails or ice, and keep up with regular check-ups.
- If the crown ever chips, loosens or comes off, keep it and contact us. Our emergency dentist service deals with exactly this kind of thing.
With a temporary crown
- Treat it gently, as it is more fragile than the final crown.
- When flossing, slide the floss out sideways rather than pulling straight up, so you do not lift the temporary off.
Worth knowing
Weighing up the trade-offs
Fitting a crown means removing some healthy tooth, and that cannot be reversed. For smaller damage, a filling, inlay or onlay may protect the tooth while keeping more of it. We will tell you if one of those is a better fit for your situation.
A crown is not permanent. Over the years it can wear, chip, loosen or need replacing, and the tooth underneath can still decay if it is not kept clean.
Material choice is a trade-off between strength and looks. Porcelain and lithium disilicate are the most lifelike for front teeth, zirconia gives the most strength in a tooth-coloured crown, and metal or porcelain-fused-to-metal remain dependable for back teeth that take heavy chewing. We will talk you through what makes sense for the tooth in question.
A crown cannot be whitened later. If you are thinking about whitening your other teeth, it is best to do that first so the crown can be matched to the brighter shade.
Some teeth are not ready for a crown straight away. Active gum disease, a lot of untreated decay, or heavy grinding may need sorting out first so the crown lasts.
Common Questions
Dental crown questions, answered
Does getting a crown hurt?
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic while it is shaped, so you should not feel pain during the appointment. Afterwards the tooth may be a little tender or sensitive for a few days. That usually settles, and over-the-counter pain relief is enough if you need it.
How long does it take to get a crown?
A crown is usually fitted over more than one visit, with time in between while the laboratory makes the permanent crown. Each appointment generally takes around an hour, though this depends on the tooth, and we will give you the fitting date at your first visit.
Will my crown look natural?
On front teeth especially, we match the crown to the colour, shape and translucency of the teeth around it, so it blends in. We check the look with you before it is bonded so you are happy with it.
How long do dental crowns last?
As a rough guide, crowns often last 10 to 15 years, and a well-looked-after crown can go on longer, while some need replacing sooner. It depends on the tooth, the material and how well it is cared for. Good cleaning and regular check-ups help a crown last. Grinding, biting hard objects and poor cleaning around the margin all shorten its life.
Is a crown better than a large filling?
It depends on how much tooth is left. When a tooth is heavily filled or cracked, a big filling can leave it weak and likely to break, and a crown holds it together better. For smaller damage, a filling or onlay may be the more conservative choice. We will recommend whichever suits your tooth, not whichever is the bigger treatment.
Can I have a crown after root canal treatment?
Yes, and it is often a good idea. A root-treated tooth tends to be more brittle, so a crown protects it and lowers the chance of it fracturing. The tooth may need a build-up first to give the crown a firm base.
How much does a dental crown cost?
Every mouth is different, so the honest answer is that it depends on you: which tooth needs the crown, how much healthy tooth is left, whether a build-up or post is needed first, and the material the crown is made from. At your consultation the dentist will go through your options and the cost of each, and you will get a written, itemised quote before anything is agreed. Nothing goes ahead until you are happy.
Can I get a dental crown on the NHS?
NHS dental examinations are free for everyone in Scotland. NHS dental treatment is free if you are under 26, pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months, or qualify for a low-income exemption. Whether a crown is the right treatment for your tooth is worked out at an examination, and we will explain every option open to you before you make any decisions.
What should I do if my crown feels loose or comes off?
Keep the crown safe, avoid chewing on that side, and never try to glue it back in with household glue. If you cannot get to us straight away, a pharmacy can sell you a temporary dental cement to cover the tooth, but treat it as a stopgap rather than a fix. Then call us, whatever the hour: we are open day and night, every day, and we hold same-day emergency slots, so we aim to see you quickly.
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