Crowns

A dentist may recommend a crown (or cap) for a tooth when it has a large filling. A tooth that has a large filling is weak and more likely to break under the stresses and strains of chewing and biting.

The tooth is ground down down to produce a core and an impression or mould is taken of this. From the impression, the dental technician makes the crown in a laboratory and returns it to the dentist who then cements it over the tooth core.

As well as protecting a tooth from the stresses and strains of biting and chewing, a crown will also restore a tooth to its correct shape. A crown can be made of porcelain so that it can be tooth coloured and look like a natural tooth.

Other reasons for having a crown may include:

• discoloured teeth
• small teeth
• root treated teeth
• so that a tooth can help to hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.