Crowns are placed in two or more visits. At the first visit, the tooth is reduced to about one-third of its normal size and then an impression is taken and sent to a dental laboratory for fabrication.

At the end of the first appointment, a temporary crown is placed with a temporary cement to protect the tooth and to provide comfort for the patient. At the second visit, the crown is "fitted" and then permanently placed in the mouth.

Crowns can be made from a variety of materials but generally speaking are either porcelain (white), metallic or a combination. Crowns usually take longer to place than basic fillings because of the extra steps involved. However, the procedure is no less comfortable and should not be any more threatening than a routine filling.