The process
What getting a crown is like
- Visit 1
Preparation
The tooth is shaped to receive its crown, and a careful impression captures its exact shape. You leave with a temporary crown in place.
- Visit 1 → 2
Crafting
Your porcelain crown is custom-crafted to match the shape and shade of your natural teeth.
- Visit 2
Placement
The crown is fitted, checked against your bite, adjusted until it feels like your own tooth, and bonded in place.
Crowns also work hand-in-hand with other care: they complete implant restorations, and healthy gums — the foundation we care most about — are what keep a crowned tooth solid. And when a front tooth needs cosmetic reshaping rather than structural repair, porcelain veneers are the cosmetic counterpart.
A crown is often one step in a larger sequence — see how we plan treatment for how Dr. Patel puts the steps in writing, in order, with photographs of your own teeth, before any work is scheduled.
Good to know
Crown questions, answered
What is a dental crown?
A crown is a custom-made cap that covers a damaged tooth completely, restoring its strength, shape, and appearance. Think of it as precision armor: the tooth underneath stays yours, and the crown takes the daily workload of biting and chewing.
When is a crown the better choice than a filling?
Fillings work when most of the tooth is still sound. When a tooth is cracked, heavily worn, or has lost too much structure to hold a filling, a crown protects what remains by wrapping the whole tooth. Dr. Patel explains why one is the better choice for your specific tooth — with photos from the intraoral camera so you can see exactly what she sees.
How long do crowns last?
Dental research commonly finds crowns lasting 10 to 15 years, often longer with good home care and regular checkups. The biggest factors are gum health around the crowned tooth, grinding habits (a night guard helps), and daily brushing and flossing along the crown's edge.
What are dental crowns made of?
Most crowns today are made of porcelain, ceramic, or zirconia — tooth-colored materials shaded to match the teeth around them. Gold and other metal alloys are still used in some situations, particularly on back teeth where strength matters more than appearance. Dr. Patel recommends the material that fits your specific tooth, bite, and smile.
Can you get an MRI with a dental crown?
Yes — dental crowns are considered safe in an MRI machine. Porcelain, ceramic, and zirconia crowns contain no metal at all, and the alloys used in metal crowns are generally not magnetic. Mention any dental work to your imaging team beforehand, since metal near the scan area can slightly affect image quality.
Can you whiten a dental crown?
No — crown materials don't respond to whitening the way natural enamel does, so whitening products won't change a crown's shade. If you're planning to whiten, the usual order is to whiten your natural teeth first, then match the new crown to the brighter shade.
How long does a dental crown procedure take?
Two visits, typically a couple of weeks apart. At the first, the tooth is shaped, a careful impression is taken, and you leave with a temporary crown while your permanent crown is custom-crafted. At the second, the finished crown is fitted, checked against your bite, and bonded in place.
Is getting a crown painful?
Most patients describe pressure rather than pain. The tooth is thoroughly numbed before any shaping begins, and the appointment itself feels much like getting a filling. Mild sensitivity for a few days afterward is normal and typically settles on its own.
Prefer to start with the basics? Our plain-language guide What is a dental crown? covers the idea, the two-visit process, and what helps a crown last.
The office sits in Fremont's Glenmoor neighborhood, on Mattos Drive just off Fremont Boulevard, with free parking in the lot at the door.
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