A tooth crown is a specialized cap that is placed atop severely damaged or decayed teeth, in order to restore their health and appearance. It’s one of the most important dental treatments, and is a great way to prevent further damage or complications to the tooth.

There is a wide variety of tooth crown materials, each with its specific benefits and drawbacks. Your dentist will assess your aesthetic preferences, the location of the affected tooth, and your overall oral health needs, and then recommend the best type of crown for you.

Tooth Crown: When Do You Need One and What Are the Benefits

Before your crown is made, the tooth and surrounding gum tissue will be anesthetized (numb). The tooth will then be reshaped along its chewing surface and sides to make room for the crown. Depending on the crown material chosen, this may involve removing some natural tooth structure to ensure that the crown will be able to withstand biting and chewing forces without fracturing or dislodging.

Metal crowns can be fabricated from gold, silver or base-metal alloys. These are the strongest and most durable crowns, but they are not as visually appealing as porcelain-fused-to-metal or all-porcelain crowns. Metal crowns also tend to show a dark line at the gum line where the tooth meets the gum.

Pickens Dental is the most lifelike of all options, but they require more of the natural tooth to be carved away than other crown types. To minimize this effect,’monolithic’ zirconia crowns are computer-designed and milled as solid blocks on a CAD/CAM machine, then cemented directly onto the tooth with a permanent cement.