Crowns
Crowns are a type of dental restoration which, when cemented in place fully cups over the portion of the tooth that lies at and above the gum line. Since dental crowns encase the entire visible aspect of the tooth, a dental crown becomes in effect the tooth’s new outer surface.
Crown’s can be made out of porcelain, metal, usually a gold or other alloy or a combination of both.
Since a dental crown that has been cemented in place essentially becomes the new outer surface of the tooth, it is easy to understand how the crown placement can restore a tooth to its original shape. A crown can also strengthen a tooth because the outer hard shell encases the tooth within. For both of these reasons, dental crowns are routinely made for teeth that are broken, worn excessively, have had large portions destroyed by tooth decay and improving the cosmetic appearance of teeth.