Crowns help to strengthen badly broken down teeth, heavily restored teeth, cracked teeth, worn teeth, root canal treated teeth or to increase the aesthetics of your smile. In order for a crown to be placed the tooth must be shaped so that the crown can cover the remaining healthy tooth structure to prevent further damage. If there is limited healthy tooth structure, a crown can still be placed but may need a few additional procedures to make the crown function better and increase its longevity.
Crowns can be made in a variety of materials from beautiful porcelains, durable metals, a combination of metal and porcelain, or gold. Material is chosen based on the function that the tooth is required to do as well as the aesthetic appearance needed. This means that a molar (back tooth) needs to be strong enough to chew on whereas a front tooth needs to made of a more aesthetically pleasing material.