A crown is a prosthetic tooth, usually made out of ceramic or porcelain, that is placed on top of your existing tooth. A crown is placed on a tooth that is significantly damaged to prevent further decay. Crowns look like real teeth, and they can make speaking and chewing significantly easier. Crowns restores a tooth’s shape, size, and strength. It fully encases the visible portion of your tooth or dental implant. Once it is permanently bonded in place, only a Dentist or Specialist can remove it. With proper care and good oral hygiene, the life of a crown can range from 5 to 15 years.A crown may be prescribed by your Dentist to:Restore and protect a tooth that is worn, decayed, cracked, or brokenProtect and support a tooth after a very large filling or root canal treatmentCover a dental implantHold a dental bridge or other prosthetic device in placeImprove your smile by covering a misshapen or severely discolored toothCrown typesFull PorcelainPorcelain is attractive, strong, stable, and highly resistant to wear. It offers a high level of biocompatibility because it does not contain metal. A porcelain crown provides the best natural color match to the rest of your teeth and is an excellent choice for front teeth.Full-MetalMetal offers strength and endurance. A metal crown may be recommended for back teeth where the forces of biting and chewing are the greatest. A metal crown rarely chips or breaks. In addition, it requires minimal removal of tooth structure. A base metal crown is often the least expensive treatment options; however.Porcelain-Fused-to-MetalPorcelain-fused-to-metal offers the benefits of a natural surface color that resembles the rest of your teeth and the strength of a metal substructure. It requires the removal of more tooth structure than other types of crowns.Fillings are made out of dental materials such as silver, porcelain, and composite resin. They are inserted into small holes that form in your teeth due to decay. Properly installed fillings can last many years and will stop decay from eating away at your teeth.