Picture a bright afternoon on Folkestone’s Harbour Arm. You bite into something crunchy, feel a tiny crack, and spend the rest of the day running your tongue over a sharp corner of a back tooth. No real pain, just a nagging sense that something isn’t right.
We hear this story every week. Quite often, it ends with a crown.
In short: A dental crown is a made-to-measure cover that fits over a damaged or weakened tooth, restoring its strength, shape and natural look. Most crowns are fitted over two visits, two to three weeks apart, with the tooth numbed throughout. With good care, a crown typically lasts 10 to 15 years, and many keep going for 20 or more.
What is a dental crown?
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap, made specifically for you, that is cemented over a natural tooth after it has been gently reshaped. It covers the whole visible tooth above the gum, holding a weak tooth together and restoring its shape, colour and bite.
Think of a thimble over a fingertip: the crown takes the force of chewing so the tooth underneath doesn’t have to. Crowns also sit on dental implants and anchor bridges, as explained on our crowns and bridges page.
When might you need a crown?
A crown is usually recommended when a tooth has lost too much structure for a filling to hold. Common reasons are a cracked tooth, a large filling that keeps failing, a root-treated back tooth, heavy wear from grinding, or a badly discoloured or misshapen front tooth.
Here’s how we explain it in the chair. A small cavity? A filling. Bigger damage with strong walls left? An onlay, covering part of the biting surface. Very little healthy teeth? A crown, which wraps around the lot.
If decay or a crack has reached the nerve, root canal treatment comes first. Root-treated back teeth become more brittle, which is why a crown so often follows.
What types of dental crowns are there?
The main types are all-ceramic crowns (including glass ceramics such as lithium disilicate), zirconia, porcelain fused to metal, traditional all-porcelain and gold. They differ in appearance, strength and how much tooth is removed. A 2026 review in the International Journal of Prosthodontics found around 97% or more of most modern types still in place after five years.
|
Material |
Appearance |
Strength |
Often used for |
5-year survival |
|
Lithium disilicate (glass ceramic, single piece) |
Very natural |
Good |
Front teeth, premolars |
98.5% (Pjetursson 2026) |
|
Layered zirconia |
Very natural |
Strong core; outer layer can chip |
Front or back teeth |
97.3% (Pjetursson 2026) |
|
Porcelain fused to metal |
Natural; may show a grey line at the gum |
High |
Back teeth, bridges |
97.1% (Pjetursson 2026) |
|
Monolithic (solid) zirconia |
Natural, slightly less translucent |
Very high |
Molars, people who grind |
96.8% (Pjetursson 2026) |
|
Traditional all-porcelain (feldspathic) |
Highly lifelike |
Lower |
Front teeth only |
90.4% (Pjetursson 2026) |
|
Gold alloy |
Metallic |
Excellent |
Back molars out of sight |
90.3% of gold restorations at 20 years (Donovan 2004) |
“Monolithic” means milled from one solid block; “layered” means a strong core with a cosmetic porcelain layer on top. In the 2026 review, monolithic zirconia chipped in just 0.4% of cases over five years, against 7.9% for layered zirconia. If you grind, that matters.
At Smile Arch, our usual choice is an all-ceramic crown, which reflects light like natural enamel with no metal edge at the gumline. Your dentist will say if another material suits a particular tooth better, because a hard-working molar has different needs from a front tooth on show.
What happens during the crown procedure?
A traditional crown takes two appointments, usually two to three weeks apart. At the first, the tooth is numbed, shaped and measured, and a temporary crown fitted. At the second, your permanent crown is checked for fit, colour and bite, then cemented in place.
Visit one (around 45 to 60 minutes)
- Check and X-ray. We examine the tooth and roots and treat any decay.
- Numbing. Local anaesthetic means you feel pressure, not pain.
- Shaping. A thin outer layer is removed so the crown sits flush with your other teeth.
- Impression and shade. We record the tooth’s shape and match the colour to its neighbours.
- Temporary crown. This protects the tooth while a dental laboratory makes your crown.
Visit two (around 30 to 60 minutes): we try in the new crown, fine-tune the bite until it feels natural, then cement it permanently.
Some practices also offer same-day crowns milled from a digital scan. One tip: crowns don’t respond to whitening, so if you’re considering teeth whitening, do it first.
Does getting a crown hurt?
Having a crown fitted shouldn’t hurt, because the tooth and gum are fully numbed before any work starts. Afterwards, some sensitivity to hot and cold for a week or two, and tender gums for a few days, are normal. Everyday painkillers usually settle this.
If your bite feels “high” afterwards, call us; it’s a quick adjustment. Temporaries use softer cement, so avoid toffee and gum on that side, and if one comes off, keep it and ring us.
If the dentist makes your heart race, you’re not alone. We look after many nervous patients, work at your pace with an agreed stop signal, and offer IV sedation for anyone who would like to feel more relaxed.
How long do dental crowns last?
Most dental crowns last 10 to 15 years, and many last 20 years or more. In clinical studies, around 97% to 98% of modern crowns are still in place after five years. Survival slowly declines after that, so it’s sensible to think of a crown as long-lasting rather than permanent.
For the longer view, a 2022 study in the European Journal of Oral Sciences followed 1,037 crowns for an average of about 11 years. Hawthan and colleagues found 81% still in place at 10 years, 70% at 15 and 62% at 20, including many teeth that were badly damaged to begin with.
What made the biggest difference? Not the material. People who ground their teeth had about a 52% higher risk of failure, and root-treated and front teeth fared worse. Your habits and the tooth underneath matter more than the label on the crown.
How much does a dental crown cost in the UK?
On the NHS in England, crowns fall under Band 3, which costs £332.10 per course of treatment from 1 April 2026. Private fees depend on the material and the practice. At Smile Arch Dental, a private practice in Folkestone, an all-ceramic crown starts from £650, and a dental implant including its crown starts from £2,482.
Related fees from our guide: new patient examination with two small X-rays £68, onlay from £600, root canal from £350 (front tooth) to £550 (molar), and re-cementing a loose crown £95.
NHS Band 3 covers all treatment in that course, and NHS crowns carry a 12-month guarantee, with some exceptions. The NHS dentist chooses a clinically suitable material, so choices made mainly for looks usually fall outside it. Privately, you have more say.
We’ll go through every cost before treatment starts. Full prices are on our fees page, and you can spread larger costs with patient finance or a membership plan from £20.36 a month.
How can you make a crown last longer?
Look after a crown like a natural tooth, paying extra attention to where it meets the gum. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between teeth daily, wear a night guard (£180 with us) if you grind, don’t chew ice or open packets with your teeth, and keep up check-ups and hygiene visits.
Many people don’t realise this: the crown can’t decay, but the tooth underneath can, usually right at the edge. That’s why visits to our dental hygienist matter.
Book in if your crown feels loose, chips, hurts when you bite, or you notice a dark line at the gum. If it comes off, keep it and call us; it can often be re-cemented, and we offer same-day emergency appointments whenever possible.
Is a crown always the right choice?
Not always. If plenty of healthy tooth remains, a filling or onlay keeps more of it. For purely cosmetic changes to healthy front teeth, bonding or veneers are gentler. If a tooth can’t be saved, an implant, bridge or denture replaces it.
|
Your situation |
Usually the best option |
|
Small to medium cavity |
Filling |
|
Large damage, strong walls remaining |
Onlay |
|
Weak, cracked or root-treated back tooth |
Crown |
|
Healthy front tooth, cosmetic concern only |
Composite bonding or veneers |
|
Tooth can’t be saved |
Frequently asked questions
How many appointments does a crown take? Usually two, about two to three weeks apart. The first takes around an hour, and the second is often a little shorter.
What should I do if my crown falls out? Keep the crown, avoid chewing on that side and call us. If the tooth and crown are undamaged, it can often be cemented back on.
Can a crown be whitened? No. Crowns keep the colour they’re made in, so if you’d like whiter teeth, whiten first and have the crown matched afterwards.
Which crown is best for a back tooth? Zirconia, porcelain fused to metal or gold all suit back teeth well, especially if you grind. The best choice depends on your bite and how much tooth is left.
Is a private crown better than an NHS crown? Both are designed to restore the tooth. On the NHS the dentist chooses a clinically suitable material, while privately you have more choice over material and appearance.
Book a crown consultation in Folkestone
If a tooth has been bothering you, we’d be happy to take a look. You’ll find us at 16 Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone, CT20 2SF, with late appointments until 7:30pm on Mondays and Thursdays. Call 01303 610680 or get in touch online.
Written by the Smile Arch Dental team · Clinically reviewed by Dr Shreyas, Implant Dentist (GDC 136770)
This article is general information and doesn’t replace a personal assessment by your dentist.