Crowns are also known as caps.
When a tooth is damaged extensively by decay or trauma, a filling may not be suitable to restore the tooth and a crown is then the choice of treatment.
Also for aesthetic reasons, a crown can cover a discoloured tooth.  Â
A crown is designed to cover the part of the tooth that shows above the gums. If that part of the tooth is not sufficient to carry a crown, the root of the tooth is used.
After the tooth is prepared and shaped, an impression is taken. The impression is sent to the dental technician who then designs a crown to fit the tooth and sends it back to the dentist.
The crown is then cemented onto the tooth.
Between the visits a temporary crown covers the prepared tooth.
Inlays or onlays are crowns that do not cover the whole surface of the tooth but are designed to replace a big part of it.
There are many types of crowns. The most common are listed below: