| A crown is a restoration that covers a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size. Its purpose is to strengthen or improve the appearance of a tooth. A crown is recommended for a variety of situations. However, these situations are alike in that part of the tooth is missing or is somehow compromised. |
| Here are some common situations in which a crown is recommended. |
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 A large filling in your molar has developed a crack. To provide more structural support a crown might be recommended.
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| You were eating and the next thing you knew you were holding a piece of tooth in your hand; a cusp has broken from a tooth which was probably weakened due to a large filling.
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| You are experiencing a sharp pain when biting into something. This is often due to microscopic cracks within the tooth structure. To relieve the discomfort and protect the tooth from breaking a crown is often recommended.
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| You've been in an accident and have a tooth so badly fractured that most of the tooth is missing. The remaining tooth and root can be used to rebuild a functional and normal looking tooth.
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| A tooth that has had root canal treatment usually needs the structural support provided by a crown.
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| The shape of a misshaped tooth can be corrected by the use of a crown.
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| How is a crown made? |
| Usually two visits are required. On the first visit the tooth is prepared by removing the outer portion of the tooth to accommodate the thickness of the crown. Sometimes additional material is added to fill in tooth structure lost due to decay or old fillings that are removed. An impression of the prepared tooth is taken and a model of the dentition is made, as well as an exact replica of the tooth. From this model a precisely fitting crown is made. A temporary crown is then placed on the tooth to keep it comfortable until the next appointment when the permanent crown will be adjusted and cemented into place. |
| This fourteen year old boy broke his front tooth in a bicycle accident. | |
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| The front tooth was restored by performing endodontic therapy and then placing a post and a porcelain crown. | |
| This fractured tooth was restored with a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. | |
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| The side of this tooth fractured, leaving a large amalgam in a structurally weakened tooth. | |
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| The esthetic and functional restoration of this tooth was achieved with a crown. | |
| The inside half of this tooth fractured; a large amalgam filling remains in the tooth. | |
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| The remaining half of the tooth has been structurally weakened. As this tooth is not visible, a full gold crown was made to restore the tooth, providing support for the remaining tooth structure. | |