Crowns are an ideal way to repair teeth that have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling.

A crown could be used for a number of other reasons, for example:

• you may have a discoloured filling and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth
• you may have had a root filling and need a crown to protect what is left of the tooth
• it may help to hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.

What is a crown made of?

Crowns can be made of a variety of different materials and new materials are continually being introduced. Some of the most popular options are listed below.

• Porcelain bonded to precious metal: this is what most crowns are made from. A precious metal base is made and then porcelain is applied in layers over it.
• Porcelain: these crowns are made entirely out of porcelain and are not as strong as bonded crowns. But they can look very natural and are most often used for front teeth.
• Ceramic: this modern technique offers a metal-free alternative, which can give the strength of a bonded crown and the appearance of a porcelain crown. Therefore it is suitable for use in all areas of the mouth.
• Glass: these crowns look very natural and can be used anywhere in the mouth.
• Gold-alloy crowns: gold is one of the oldest filling materials. Today it is used with other metal alloys to increase its strength, which makes it very hard-wearing. These crowns are silver or gold in colour.