A crown is 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.

Your dentist will cement the crown onto the affected tooth to fully cover the portion above the gum line. Basically, the crown becomes your tooth’s new outer surface. A crown 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.

You may need a crown or an onlay (partial crown) when a tooth is no longer strong enough to hold a filling. Your crown will be 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. The crown is then sculpted just for you so that your bite and jaw function normally once the crown is in place.