When Do I Need a Dental Crown?

A crown is a restoration that covers, or “caps,” a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size. A crown can also strengthen and improve the appearance of your tooth. Crowns are necessary when a tooth is generally broken down and a filling won’t solve the problem. If your tooth is cracked, a crown holds your tooth together to seal the cracks so the damage doesn’t get worse. Crowns are also used to support a large filling when there isn’t enough of the tooth remaining.

Functions of a crown:

1. Restore the form, function and esthetics of a tooth - Because a dental crown encases the entire visible portion of a tooth, porcelain crowns can be used to enhance or idealize the cosmetic appearance of teeth.
2. Improve the strength of a tooth - Dental crowns are routinely placed on teeth that have broken, have had large portions destroyed by tooth decay or have had root canal treatment. That's because beyond just restoring a tooth's shape, a crown can provide a reinforcing and strengthening effect too.
3. Protect the underlying tooth from any mechanical, chemical, or thermal injury.

Your dentist may also recommend a crown in order to protect weak teeth from fracturing (like after a root canal), restore already fractured teeth, or cover badly shaped or discolored teeth.