Cosmetic Dentistry

A dental crown is a custom-made, tooth-shaped cover that dentists use to protect, strengthen, and restore weak, damaged, or severely decayed teeth.

The crown completely caps the visible part of your tooth, fitting over it like a snug cover. To prepare for a crown, your dentist will carefully reshape the tooth and remove a small amount of enamel so the crown can sit securely.

Dental laboratories can make crowns from several materials, including porcelain, metal, resin, or a combination.

Types of dental crowns

Multiple crown options are available, and the best choice depends on your oral health needs, the location of the tooth, and your personal preferences.

Metal crowns

Metal crowns are made from strong alloys such as gold, palladium, nickel, or chromium. They are highly durable, resistant to chipping or breaking, and require minimal enamel removal. Metal crowns can handle vigorous chewing and biting forces, making them one of the longest-lasting crown types.

The main drawback is their metallic appearance, which is why they are usually recommended for molars that are not visible when you smile.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal (PFM) crowns

PFM crowns combine the toughness of a metal base with the natural look of porcelain. Dentists can color-match the porcelain to blend with natural teeth, giving a more aesthetic appearance than metal alone.

However, the porcelain coating can chip over time, sometimes exposing the metal underneath. PFMs may also wear down the opposing teeth when biting. Despite these drawbacks, PFM crowns are strong and versatile, suitable for front and back teeth.

Pressed ceramic crowns

Pressed ceramic crowns use a solid ceramic inner core instead of metal. This core is formed by heating and pressing ceramic at high temperatures. Layers of porcelain are then applied on top to mimic the look of natural enamel.

These crowns look very natural, but like PFM crowns, the porcelain layers can chip over time. Dentists commonly use them to restore both front and back teeth.

All-Ceramic or All-Porcelain crowns

All-ceramic crowns provide the most natural appearance and are an excellent choice for patients with metal allergies. They closely resemble real enamel in color and translucency.

Zirconia crowns — made from zirconium dioxide — are among the strongest ceramic options. They can handle greater biting forces than many other ceramics while gentle on opposing teeth, causing less enamel wear.

Same-Day dental crowns

Thanks to CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and manufacturing) technology, many dentists can design and create crowns in their office. The dentist designs your crown using digital impressions and then mills it from a ceramic block during the same appointment.

The significant advantage is convenience — you can walk out with your permanent crown in just one visit. However, not every case suits the same-day crowns, so your dentist will determine if you qualify.

All-Resin crowns

Resin crowns are generally more affordable than other crown typesbut are less durable and more prone to fractures. Because of this, dentists usually recommend resin for temporary crowns rather than long-term restorations. On average, they last about three to five years.