Crowns

A crown, or cap, is a way of restoring a tooth that has been damaged past the point where a filling can repair it properly. The general rule is that if less than half the natural tooth is remaining a filling will not work and a crown is indicated. The procedure of crowning a tooth surrounds the tooth which allows chewing force to be distributed down equally on the tooth. This keeps the tooth from breaking or splitting further down. There are many reasons to need a crown but the most common is the fracture of a tooth due to decay or failure of a large filling. A crown can also be needed is a tooth has had a root canal and is no longer strong enough to withstand the forces of chewing. Crowns are also used in certain situations to achieve a desired cosmetic result.