By John Mehlem, DMD, Dental Consultant

 What is a crown and why would I need one?

 Crowns are used to restore teeth to their original size, shape, and function when they have been badly damaged by decay or have broken. A crown covers the entire tooth like a “cap”, as opposed to a restoration (or filling) that fills a void or hole.

 There are many types of crowns, depending on one’s needs—strength vs. cosmetics. On molars (back teeth), strength is often most important to support a large filling when little tooth structure remains or part of the tooth has broken off; a gold alloy or gold/porcelain crown is used. Crowns are often used to prevent cracked teeth from future breakage.

 On front teeth, cosmetics are key and less strength is needed. Porcelain crowns are available to cover badly shaped or discolored teeth or to align and straighten crooked teeth, when braces are not an option.

  Have a question you would like to ask our Dental Consultant? Email your question to: DentalQuestions@deltadentalaz.com.