A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that fits snuggly over a tooth, completely covering it. Usually a crown is required to restore the size, shape, strength, or appearance of a tooth. Crowns fix these issues by encasing the visible portion of the tooth that lies above the gum line.
A crown may be needed in the following situations :
- If you have a weak tooth (ie: from decay), you may need a crown to prevent the tooth from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth
- If you have a tooth that is already broken or that has been severely worn down, you may need a crown
- Crowns can also be used to cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there is not much tooth left
- Crowns can be used to hold a dental bridge in place
- Crowns can be placed over misshapen or discolored teeth
- If you have had a dental implant placed, a crown may be used to restore the original function of the lost tooth
- Or, you may need a crown to cover a tooth that has had a root canal
