A tooth crown acts like a protective shield for your tooth, and can also improve its strength, appearance, and functionality. A crown can be used to cover a broken or decayed tooth, repair a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment, or restore a tooth that has been weakened by a large filling.

Before the crown is inserted, your natural tooth and surrounding gum will be numbed. Then the tooth will be filed down along its chewing surface and sides to make room for the crown. This is done to ensure that the crown will be able to resist the biting and chewing forces that it will face. If too little lower tooth structure remains, it is likely that the crown will break or become dislodged.

Tooth Crown: When and Why You Might Need One

There are several different types of tooth crowns, and they come in a range of materials. The most durable crowns are made out of metal, but there are other options as well. Ceramic or porcelain crowns do not contain any metal, and can be color matched to match your natural teeth. They are less dependable than a metal crown and can be more vulnerable to chips or breaks.

Porcelain-fused-to-metal (also referred to as PFM or VMK crowns) are another durable option, with a hard inner core of metal alloys and a porcelain substructure that is bonded on top. These crowns can withstand more extreme biting and chewing forces than porcelain alone, but are not as aesthetically pleasing as a fully porcelain crown.