A dental crown is a restoration that covers and supports a damaged tooth, giving it added strength and stability. They’re also used to protect teeth with large fillings and to support artificial teeth like bridges or implants, as well as to help a weakened tooth stand up against biting and chewing forces, such as from clenching and grinding.

Understanding Dental Crowns: Benefits and Procedures

A crown can be made from different materials depending on the type of restoration needed and the patient’s preference, as well as other factors such as price. The most common crown is a stainless steel cap, which is durable and less expensive. It works well for back molars because they are not visible, but is not aesthetically pleasing and may look gray or yellow over time. Another popular choice is a crown made from noble metals, which are more attractive and longer-lasting. This includes gold and platinum, but it can also be an alloy of base metals with a limited amount of noble metals such as silver or palladium.

Before the crown is placed, your oral care provider will prepare the tooth by anesthetizing it and removing a small portion of its outer surface. They may take X-rays of the tooth and surrounding bone to check for any additional damage or decay. They will then trim the tooth and shape it to make room for the crown, and they may build up the tooth with filling material if needed. They will then create an impression of the trimmed tooth and the surrounding teeth, which will be sent to a lab to create your custom crown.