Dental crowns are a cosmetic restoration used to strengthen a tooth or improve its shape. Crowns are most often used for teeth that are broken, worn, or partially destroyed by tooth decay.

They are “cemented” onto an existing tooth and fully cover the portion of your tooth above the gum line. In effect, the crown becomes your tooth’s new outer surface.

Dental crowns can be made of porcelain, metal, or both.
Porcelain crowns are most often preferred because they mimic the translucency of natural teeth and are very strong.

Crowns or onlays (partial crowns) are needed when there is insufficient tooth strength remaining to hold a filling. Unlike fillings which apply the restorative material directly into your mouth, a crown is fabricated away from your mouth. Your crown is created in a lab from your unique tooth impression which allows a dental laboratory technician to examine all aspects of your bite and jaw movements.

Your crown is then sculpted just for you so that your bite and jaw movements function normally once the crown is placed.

You Might Need A Dental Crown If:

• The tooth has been filled so much that there is more filling than actual tooth structure.
• The tooth has had extensive decay and/or damage.
• The tooth has been broken.
• The tooth has a root canal performed on it.
• Adiacent teeth need crowns to support a bridge.
• A dental implant has been put in and requires a crown to finish it off.