Before you get a crown, ask these questions.

Who is actually designing my crown? At most offices, an outside lab technician who has never seen you designs and fabricates your crown from a written note. Ask whether your crown is designed in-house by the dentist who examined you, or sent off to someone who's never met you.

Is this a one-visit or two-visit process? Traditional workflows require a temporary crown and a second appointment three to four weeks later. Fully digital, in-house workflows can complete the process in a single visit. Ask which model your provider uses and why.

What ceramic material are you using? There's a real difference between established, well-researched, name-brand ceramics and generic alternatives chosen to control cost. Ask specifically what material is going into your mouth, not just what shade it will be.

How will you make sure my bite is correct? Bite issues are the most common post-crown complication. Ask how bite accuracy is checked and adjusted, and whether that happens the same day or requires a follow-up visit to catch problems.

What's my responsibility in maintaining this crown long-term? A crown doesn't make the tooth underneath it immune to decay, and ceramic crowns can still fail if you clench, grind, or chew things you shouldn't. Ask what habits could shorten your crown's lifespan and what you can do to prevent early failure.