{"id":201,"date":"2025-09-01T14:39:58","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T14:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/?p=201"},"modified":"2025-10-15T14:40:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T14:40:11","slug":"how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do Dentists Prepare Teeth for Crowns?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_422265317__1760539109_53073-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Dentist working on patient. \" class=\"wp-image-202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_422265317__1760539109_53073-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_422265317__1760539109_53073-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_422265317__1760539109_53073.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/dental-crowns.html\">Dental crowns<\/a> are one of the most common and effective ways to restore damaged or weakened teeth. But before a crown can be placed, the tooth needs to be properly prepared. If you\u2019ve been told you need a crown, you might wonder what exactly happens during the procedure. Here\u2019s a step-by-step look at how dentists prepare teeth for crowns and why each stage is essential for long-lasting results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Initial Examination and Consultation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The process begins with a thorough dental examination. Your dentist will evaluate the tooth and surrounding gums to ensure that a crown is the best solution. X-rays are often taken to check the roots of the tooth and the bone beneath it for signs of decay, infection, or damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the tooth has extensive decay or the nerve is compromised, your dentist may recommend additional treatment \u2014 such as a root canal \u2014 before placing the crown. This ensures the tooth is strong, stable, and free of infection before being covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Numbing the Tooth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before any preparation begins, your dentist will numb the area around the tooth with a local anesthetic. This ensures that you remain comfortable and pain-free throughout the procedure. Patients typically feel only mild pressure and vibration during this step, but no discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shaping the Tooth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the area is numb, your dentist will begin shaping the tooth to make room for the crown. Using specialized dental instruments, they carefully remove a thin layer of enamel from the top and sides of the tooth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The amount of tooth removed depends on the type of crown being used:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Metal crowns require less tooth reduction because they\u2019re thin but strong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Porcelain or ceramic crowns require more space to ensure durability and a natural appearance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This shaping step is crucial because it allows the crown to fit snugly over the tooth without feeling bulky or interfering with your bite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a large portion of the tooth is missing due to damage or decay, your dentist may build it up with a filling material or dental core to create enough structure for the crown to adhere to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Taking Impressions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After the tooth is shaped, your dentist will take an impression (mold) of your prepared tooth and the surrounding teeth. This ensures that your crown will fit perfectly and match your natural bite alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Impressions can be made using traditional dental putty or modern digital scanning technology, which captures precise 3D images. These impressions are then sent to a dental laboratory, where your custom crown is carefully crafted to match the color, shape, and size of your natural teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Placing a Temporary Crown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While your permanent crown is being made \u2014 which usually takes one to two weeks \u2014 your dentist will place a temporary crown over the prepared tooth. This protects the tooth from sensitivity and damage while maintaining your ability to chew and smile comfortably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Placement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once your permanent crown is ready, you\u2019ll return for a second visit. Your dentist will remove the temporary crown, check the fit and color of the new one, and make any necessary adjustments. If everything looks and feels right, the crown is cemented into place using a strong dental adhesive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After placement, your dentist will ensure your bite is even and that the crown feels natural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Preparing a tooth for a crown is a precise, multi-step process that ensures both durability and aesthetics. With careful shaping, accurate impressions, and modern materials, today\u2019s crowns can last for 10 to 20 years or more, restoring both function and beauty to your smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/dr-ben-sutters-cv.html\">Dr. Ben A. Sutter IV<\/a> earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in 2005 before completing a General Practice Residency at the Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ. He received additional training in forensic dentistry from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and the Clark County Medical Examiner\u2019s office. Dr. Sutter\u2019s office was awarded Most Innovative Dental Practice in Oregon in 2023! If you need to save a tooth with a dental crown, schedule an appointment with us <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/contact-us.html\">online<\/a> or call (541) 484-1955.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dental crowns are one of the most common and effective ways to restore damaged or weakened teeth. But before a crown can be placed, the tooth needs to be properly prepared. If you\u2019ve been told you need a crown, you might wonder what exactly happens during the procedure. Here\u2019s a step-by-step look at how dentists [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Do Dentists Prepare Teeth for Crowns? - For Beautiful Smiles Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Preparing teeth for crowns combines artistry and science. Here is a guide to more on the process of how dentists do it.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Do Dentists Prepare Teeth for Crowns? - For Beautiful Smiles Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Preparing teeth for crowns combines artistry and science. Here is a guide to more on the process of how dentists do it.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"For Beautiful Smiles Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-01T14:39:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-15T14:40:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_422265317__1760539109_53073-300x200.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"bsutterteam\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"bsutterteam\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/\",\"name\":\"How Do Dentists Prepare Teeth for Crowns? - For Beautiful Smiles Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_422265317__1760539109_53073-300x200.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-01T14:39:58+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-15T14:40:11+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/34458ccd2a51222cf187bfbd11ff1e8e\"},\"description\":\"Preparing teeth for crowns combines artistry and science. Here is a guide to more on the process of how dentists do it.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_422265317__1760539109_53073.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_422265317__1760539109_53073.jpg\",\"width\":800,\"height\":534},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How Do Dentists Prepare Teeth for Crowns?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"For Beautiful Smiles Blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/34458ccd2a51222cf187bfbd11ff1e8e\",\"name\":\"bsutterteam\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/abb105ad8a36f63bce401a8de0202d3d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/abb105ad8a36f63bce401a8de0202d3d?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"bsutterteam\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/author\/bsutterteam\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How Do Dentists Prepare Teeth for Crowns? - For Beautiful Smiles Blog","description":"Preparing teeth for crowns combines artistry and science. Here is a guide to more on the process of how dentists do it.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How Do Dentists Prepare Teeth for Crowns? - For Beautiful Smiles Blog","og_description":"Preparing teeth for crowns combines artistry and science. Here is a guide to more on the process of how dentists do it.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/","og_site_name":"For Beautiful Smiles Blog","article_published_time":"2025-09-01T14:39:58+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-15T14:40:11+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_422265317__1760539109_53073-300x200.jpg"}],"author":"bsutterteam","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"bsutterteam","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/","url":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/","name":"How Do Dentists Prepare Teeth for Crowns? - For Beautiful Smiles Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_422265317__1760539109_53073-300x200.jpg","datePublished":"2025-09-01T14:39:58+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-15T14:40:11+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/34458ccd2a51222cf187bfbd11ff1e8e"},"description":"Preparing teeth for crowns combines artistry and science. Here is a guide to more on the process of how dentists do it.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_422265317__1760539109_53073.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AdobeStock_422265317__1760539109_53073.jpg","width":800,"height":534},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/2025\/09\/01\/how-do-dentists-prepare-teeth-for-crowns\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How Do Dentists Prepare Teeth for Crowns?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/","name":"For Beautiful Smiles Blog","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/34458ccd2a51222cf187bfbd11ff1e8e","name":"bsutterteam","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/abb105ad8a36f63bce401a8de0202d3d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/abb105ad8a36f63bce401a8de0202d3d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"bsutterteam"},"url":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/author\/bsutterteam\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=201"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":203,"href":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201\/revisions\/203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=201"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=201"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forbeautifulsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=201"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}