Dental care - Crowns
Protect the tooth.
Restore the function.
Dental Crowns, full-coverage ceramic restoration
A dental crown encases the entire visible portion of a damaged or weakened tooth, restoring its shape, strength and appearance. Where a filling is insufficient, a crown provides full structural support.
15+
Years lifespan
2
Appointments
Full
Bite force restored
When it's needed
When a tooth is too
compromised for a filling.
A filling replaces missing tooth structure. A crown protects remaining tooth structure. When decay, fracture or previous restorations leave too little sound tooth to support a filling, a crown becomes the clinically correct solution.
Crowns are also placed routinely after root canal treatment, which removes the pulp that kept the tooth vital and pliable, leaving it brittle and prone to fracture without full-coverage protection.
Crown materials
Choosing the right
material for your case.
Crown material selection depends on tooth position, bite forces, aesthetic requirements and budget. Your specialist recommends the appropriate option at consultation.
Zirconia, all-ceramic
The current gold standard. Highly strong, completely metal-free and natural-looking. Suitable for both front and back teeth. Recommended for most cases at German Select.
E-max lithium disilicate
Superior aesthetics for front teeth. Translucent and lifelike, indistinguishable from natural enamel. Slightly less strong than zirconia; best for anterior and premolar positions.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM)
An older system combining a metal substructure with a porcelain surface. Durable but can show a dark margin at the gumline over time. Still appropriate in specific budget or structural contexts.
The process
What happens
at each appointment.
01
Preparation
The tooth is shaped under local anaesthesia to create space for the crown. Digital impression taken. A temporary crown is placed to protect the prepared tooth.
02
Laboratory fabrication
Your permanent crown is fabricated in a dental laboratory to the exact specifications: shade, shape and occlusion. Typically ready in 5–7 days.
03
Fitting & cementation
The crown is tried in, adjusted if necessary and permanently cemented. Bite checked and finalised. Full function restored immediately.
What's included
Your complete
crown package.
Every crown treatment includes the preparation appointment, temporary crown, laboratory fabrication of the permanent crown, the fitting appointment and a follow-up review.
Clinical assessment and X-ray review
Tooth preparation under local anaesthesia
Digital impression, no traditional putty trays
Temporary crown placed same day
Permanent zirconia or E-max crown, laboratory fabricated
Final cementation, occlusion check and polish
Ready to explore your options
No commitment required. Your coordinator responds within 24 hours and can answer any questions before you decide.
Questions
What patients
commonly ask.
Is getting a crown painful?
The preparation is done under local anaesthesia, the procedure itself should not be painful. Mild sensitivity is common for a few days after the temporary crown is placed. Once the permanent crown is cemented, most patients experience no discomfort. If the tooth is already root-canal treated, there is no nerve present and sensitivity is not a concern.
Can a crown fall off?
A permanently cemented crown should not come loose under normal circumstances. Temporary crowns are intentionally placed with weaker cement and can occasionally dislodge, contact the clinic if this happens before your fitting appointment. Long-term crown loosening may occur due to cement wash-out or decay beneath the crown, regular check-ups prevent this from going undetected.
Why zirconia rather than metal or PFM?
Zirconia is biocompatible, metal-free, highly strong and aesthetically superior to PFM, which can show a grey margin at the gumline as it ages. For most patients, zirconia offers the best combination of durability and appearance. PFM remains an option in specific cases where budget or tooth structure makes it the more appropriate choice.
How do I care for a crown?
The same as natural teeth, twice-daily brushing, flossing and regular professional cleaning. The crown itself cannot decay, but the tooth margin where crown meets tooth can. Good oral hygiene at the gumline is the most important maintenance factor.
Protect it now.
Avoid extraction later.
A free consultation reviews your clinical situation and confirms whether a crown is the right solution or whether a more conservative restoration is sufficient.