Teeth preparation for a dental crown involves: • Initial Impression — Before altering the tooth’s structure, in some cases the dentist will make a preliminary impression or mold of the tooth. This is used to create a temporary crown while the permanent one is being created. • Color Matching — To determine the shade of the natural teeth, a color guide will be used if the crown is tooth-colored. For maximum accuracy, the color is matched in natural lighting. • Isolation — To prevent injuries from the tools used for tooth preparation, the tooth is separated from the tongue and cheeks. In most cases a rubber dam is used as a protective barrier, however other retraction devices such as cotton rolls or cheek shields may be used. • Basic Preparation — Basic preparation typically involves cutting the tooth with unique dental burs in order to create space for the restoration and to remove parts of the tooth that are structurally compromised. The tooth is prepared by removing previous restoration materials (if present) and decay, and if possible, by filling missing portions of the tooth or any deep cavities.