Crown

A crown is a dental appliance that replaces and covers the entire part of a tooth above the gum line. A crown may be made of gold, porcelain, or a combination of other man-made materials.

Crowns are used to:

  • Repair teeth that have broken or decayed so much that they can no longer be treated with a filling.
  • Improve the appearance of front permanent teeth (incisors) that are properly spaced but are rotated and look crooked.

Crowns may be applied after a root canal treatment to seal the tooth and prevent it from breaking.

Current as of: May 12, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Arden G. Christen, DDS, MSD, MA, FACD - Dentistry