A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that covers a tooth to improve the tooth’s appearance, shape, size and alignment while strengthening the tooth. Crowns can be made out of metal alloys, porcelain, ceramics or acrylics. The metal alloys are stronger than porcelain so porcelain fused to metal alloys are commonly used to create a crown that is both strong and natural looking. Dental crowns are permanently cemented to a tooth are do not removable.

The advantages of crowns include:

Size, shape, texture, and color can be controlled (custom-made)

Restore aesthetics and function to broken, cracked, or filled back teeth

Can be used on damaged or broken teeth

Although porcelain crowns require the reduction of more tooth structure than veneers, they are generally stronger than veneers.

Why dental crowns?

·       Replace a large filling when there isn't a lot of tooth remaining

·       Protect a weak tooth from fracturing

·       Restore a fractured tooth

·       Attach a bridge

·       Cover a dental implant

·       Cover a discolored or poorly shaped tooth

·       Cover a tooth that had a root canal