A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over your existing tooth for a variety of reasons. It is most often used to restore the original size, shape, or appearance of the natural tooth, but it may be placed to help stabilize a dental bridge or to cover a dental implant.
When you have had extensive work done on a particular tooth, such as a root canal or a very large filling, a crown may be recommended to protect the tooth or to improve its appearance. Crowns are also used to help strengthen a cracked tooth or one that is in danger of breaking.
There are several types of materials that dental crowns can be made from, including metal, resin, and ceramic. Ceramic crowns provide the best aesthetic result and are less prone to cracking or wearing away than resin crowns. They also have an advantage over crowns that contain metal, as many people suffer from metal allergies.