What is a crown?
Sometimes a facture or other damage to a tooth is so large, or has weakened the tooth, that a filling cannot repair it adequately. In these cases, to prevent further deterioration and to restore tooth quality, the healthy remainder of the tooth can be made whole again by fitting a crown onto it. Tooth damage can be from a variety of causes, often a cavity, fracture or broken tooth. A dental crown serves to replace the tooth's original enamel covering and to provide strength. There are 3 basic types of crowns: porcelain-metal crown, pure porcelain or composite, and all metal (usually gold) crown.