# Dental Crowns

> Citation bundle for Dental Crowns on The Treatment Registry.
> URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/procedures/dental-crowns
> Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/procedures/dental-crowns

- Category: dental

## Description

In dentistry, a crown or a dental cap is a type of dental restoration that completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. A crown may be needed when a large dental cavity threatens the health of a tooth.

## Overview

In dentistry, a crown (sometimes called a dental cap) is a type of dental restoration that completely caps or encircles a tooth or a dental implant, and is usually bonded to the underlying tooth with dental cement. Crowns are used to improve the strength or appearance of teeth and to halt further deterioration. A crown may be indicated to restore a badly broken down, worn or fractured tooth where simpler fillings are unsuitable or have failed clinically, to improve the appearance of an unsightly tooth that cannot be managed by simpler cosmetic measures, to replace an existing crown that has failed, or to restore the visible portion of a single dental implant. Some dentists also finish root-canal treatment by covering the exposed tooth with a crown, and crowns can reduce the fracture risk of extensively restored teeth; however, current evidence does not clearly show that crowns outperform other routine restorations for root-treated teeth, so the decision is guided by clinical judgement and the amount of remaining tooth structure. The most common approach is an indirect method: the dentist prepares the tooth and takes a dental impression, the crown is fabricated outside the mouth, and it is then fitted at a subsequent appointment. This allows the use of strong restorative materials that require time-consuming fabrication under intense heat, such as cast metal or fired porcelain; some patients choose gold for its compatible thermal expansion. Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is increasingly used to fabricate crowns.

## FAQs

### What is a dental crown?

A crown, or dental cap, is a restoration that completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. It is usually bonded to the tooth with dental cement and is used to improve strength or appearance and to halt deterioration.

### When is a crown needed?

Crowns are indicated to restore badly broken, worn or fractured teeth where simpler restorations are unsuitable, to improve the appearance of unsightly teeth, to replace a failed crown, to protect extensively restored teeth, or to restore the visible part of a dental implant.

### How is a crown made and fitted?

Most commonly the tooth is prepared and a dental impression is taken, the crown is fabricated outside the mouth, and it is fitted at a later appointment. This indirect method allows strong materials that need fabrication under intense heat to be used.

### What materials are crowns made from?

Crowns can be made from various materials, including cast metal and fired porcelain. Some patients choose gold because of its compatible thermal expansion. Computer technology (CAD/CAM) is increasingly used in crown fabrication.

### Do I always need a crown after a root canal?

Traditionally crowns were routinely prescribed for root-treated teeth, but recent reviews find no strong evidence that they are better than other routine restorations. Dentists are advised to use clinical judgement, taking account of how much tooth structure remains.