A crown is a restorative procedure used to improve your tooth’s shape or to strengthen a tooth, and is most often used for teeth that are broken, worn or no longer have enough strength remaining to hold a filling. Unlike fillings, which are applied directly to the tooth, a crown is fabricated in a lab based on an impression of your tooth as well as all aspects of your jaw movements and bite.
A dental crown can also be used to protect a tooth after a root canal or to cover a dental implant. Crowns also serve as the “anchors” for dental bridges. No matter their underlying purpose, think of a crown like a “cap” that is cemented onto the part of an existing tooth to serve as its new outer surface.