What are Dental Crowns?

Crowns, sometimes called ‘caps’, are an artifical restoration made to fit over a prepared tooth making it strong and giving it the shape of a natural tooth. They can be made from a variety of materials.

Types of Dental Crown

• Porcelain bonded to precious metal – this is what most crowns are made of. A precious metal base is made to give strength and porcelain is bonded over it to give the crown a tooth-coloured appearance.
• All Porcelain – these are entirely made out of porcelain and are not as strong as bonded crowns, but they do give a very natural appearance on front teeth.
• All-ceramic – this modern material is metal-free but very strong. It can give the strength of a bonded crown and the appearance of a porcelain crown. This makes it suitable for all areas of the mouth.
• Gold Alloy – gold is one of the oldest filling materials and used with other metals gives a very strong and durable restoration. This crown has a gold appearance, which is not to everyone’s taste, but used on teeth at the back of the mouth, where it is not seen, can give a very long lasting restoration.