A dental crown is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth to cover and restore its shape and size, giving it a natural appearance.

When cemented into place, a crown fully encases the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.

Application of Crowns

Crowns are an ideal restoration for teeth that have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or a large filling. A dental crown could be used for a number of other reasons, for example:

To protect a weak tooth from breaking, or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth

To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has become severely worn

To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't a lot of tooth remaining

To hold a dental bridge in place

To cover misshapened or severely discolored teeth

To cover a dental implant

To make a cosmetic modification

Types of Crowns
Permanent crowns can be made from stainless steel, all metal (such as Gold or another alloy), porcelain-fused-to-metal, all resin or all ceramic.

Typical Treatment Process
Preparing a tooth for a crown usually requires two visits to the dentist. The first step involves examining and preparing the tooth, the second visit involves placement of the permanent crown.

Caring for Crowns
While a crowned tooth does not require any special care, it should be remembered that simply because a tooth is crowned does not mean the tooth is protected from decay or gum disease. Therefore, continue to follow good oral hygiene practices, including brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day - especially around the crown area where the gum meets the tooth. Antibacterial mouth rinse can also help.