The invention provides methods of making provisional and long-term dental restorations, particularly dental veneers, implants, crowns and bridges. A shell or restoration form made of polymerizable material having good dimensional shape-stability in its uncured condition is used to make the dental restoration. A polymerizable material is introduced into the cavity of the shell form. The outer shell and injected polymerizable material are polymerized and bond together to form a hardened crown structure. In one embodiment, the restoration can be fabricated indirectly by a dental laboratory. In another version, a dental practitioner can make the restoration chairside for a patient in a dental office.