Dental crowns, commonly known as 'dental caps', are dental restorations which encase a tooth and are cemented in place. Indications for a dental crown are usually for a broken down or decayed tooth. The dentist will use a crown to restore a tooth to a cosmetically pleasing appearance and strengthen the tooth.

As the illustration above indicates:

1) a tooth presents with a large cavity or broken portion of tooth structure. This tooth is vulnerable to further decay and fracture.

2) the dentist will 'prepare' or shape the tooth for a crown. In preparing the tooth, the dentist will incorporate resistance and retention features in order for the crown to stay in place. These features vary in every tooth and are determined by the type of bite you have. An impression of the prepared tooth is taken and sent to a dental laboratory for processing.

3) a crown is then fabricated in the dental laboratory with instruction from the dentist such as type of crown and shade or color of the tooth. The crown is then cemented in place by the dentist. A temporary crown is placed while the laboratory is constructing the crown.

Other uses for dental crowns include strengthening a tooth with an existing large filling, restoring a tooth to its original position or improving the cosmetic appearance of a tooth. Dental fillings have an advantage of conservation of tooth structure. However, when a filling is too large as to undermine the durability of a tooth, a crown is used to strengthen the tooth. Filling materials may also stain a tooth over time. In combination of a filling material being too large and staining from a filling, a dental crown is a great alternative to salvage a tooth and restore it to its original position. The advantage of a dental crown is that when a mold of your tooth is made from the impression taken, easier manipulation of tooth position can be established.

We have all heard of the famous "Hollywood Smile". Since dental crowns cap over teeth, any dental crown that has a porcelain surface can be used to improve the cosmetic appearance of teeth. However, dental crowns are best used to improve the cosmetic image of teeth when they are used in conjunction with other purposes such as strengthening a tooth or restoring a tooth to it's original position as described above. If esthetics is the only goal, more conservative approaches such as bleaching or veneers should be considered.

Many different types of crowns exist. The most commonly used crown is the porcelain fused to metal crown. What that means is a metal substructure is made to fit the mold of your tooth taken from the impression. Then porcelain material or white material is packed and fused to this substrate in order to give a natural appearance. There are also porcelain fused to gold crowns, all porcelain crowns, all gold crowns and different types of gold and metal used. Each tooth is different and may require a certain type of crown or have many options. It is best to speak to your dentist to determine which crown is best for you.