Dental Crowns in Leeds
A crown is a custom-made cap that covers a damaged tooth completely, restoring its strength, shape and appearance. It is what we use when a tooth has broken, has a very large filling, or has had root canal treatment and needs protecting from splitting. Twilight Dental provides crowns at our clinic in Woodhouse, Leeds, with evening appointments seven days a week.
Crowns at a glance
- Two visits in most cases: preparation and impressions, then fitting, with a temporary crown in between.
- Materials include porcelain, zirconia, E-max and metal or gold, chosen for the position and load of the tooth.
- Typically lasts 10 to 15 years, often longer, depending on the tooth beneath and how well it is cleaned.
- Protects a weakened tooth from the vertical fracture that would otherwise cost you the tooth.
- Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Starts with a £24 consultation, including examination, any X-rays needed and a written plan.
When a crown is the right treatment
- A tooth has broken, or a cusp has snapped off, and too little is left to hold a filling
- A very large old filling is failing and the walls of the tooth are flexing
- The tooth has had root canal treatment — back teeth in particular are far more likely to survive long term with a crown
- A tooth is cracked and needs holding together
- A discoloured or misshapen front tooth needs both strength and appearance addressed
- An implant needs its final restoration
Choosing the material
E-max (lithium disilicate)
Excellent appearance with good strength. A common choice for front teeth and premolars.
Zirconia
Very strong, good for back teeth and heavy bites, and now available in more natural-looking layered forms.
Porcelain bonded to metal
A traditional, durable option, though the metal margin can show as gums recede.
Gold and metal alloys
The kindest material to opposing teeth and extremely long-lasting on molars, where appearance matters less.
What happens at each visit
- Assessment. Examination and X-ray to confirm the tooth and root can support a crown, and that there is no untreated decay or infection.
- Preparation. Under local anaesthetic the tooth is shaped to make room for the crown, and any missing structure is built up as a core.
- Impressions or a digital scan, plus shade matching against your natural teeth.
- A temporary crown protects the tooth while the laboratory makes the permanent one.
- Fitting. The crown is tried in, the fit, contacts, bite and shade are checked with you, and it is then cemented.
Living with a crown
- Clean the margin where crown meets tooth carefully — that junction is where problems start.
- Floss or use interdental brushes daily; decay under a crown is silent until it is advanced.
- Avoid biting nails, ice and packaging.
- If you grind your teeth, a nightguard protects both the crown and the tooth under it.
- Mild sensitivity for a week or two after fitting is normal; pain on biting that persists is not, so tell us.
Crowns, onlays, veneers and fillings
A crown is not always the answer. Where enough sound tooth remains, an onlay covers only the damaged part and preserves more of your own tooth. Where the concern is purely cosmetic and the tooth is otherwise strong, veneers or composite bonding may achieve the same look with far less preparation. We will recommend the least destructive option that will actually last, and our price list shows what each involves.
Dental crowns — your questions answered
Does having a crown hurt?
No. The tooth is numbed for the preparation appointment, and fitting the finished crown is usually done without anaesthetic at all.
How long do crowns last?
Typically 10 to 15 years, and often considerably longer. What usually fails is not the crown but decay in the tooth underneath, which is why cleaning the margin matters.
Will anyone be able to tell?
A well-made porcelain or E-max crown on a front tooth is difficult to identify in normal conversation. We check the shade with you in daylight before it is cemented.
Can I have it done in one visit?
Conventional crowns need a laboratory stage, so two visits and a temporary crown in between. We will tell you the timescale at the consultation.
My crown has come off. What should I do?
Keep it, do not glue it, and call us. In many cases the original crown can be cleaned and re-cemented. See our page on a lost filling or crown.
Do I need a crown after root canal treatment?
On back teeth, usually yes. Root-treated molars and premolars are much more likely to fracture without full coverage.
Can a crowned tooth still decay?
Yes, at the margin where the crown meets the tooth. The crown itself cannot decay, but the tooth under it can.
Talk to us about crowning a damaged tooth
A £24 consultation gives you an examination, any X-rays needed and a written plan with costs. Evening appointments seven days a week.
