A crown (often called a cap) is usually required in cases where a tooth has become broken, a portion of tooth has become chipped, large old fillings are in need of replacing or the tooth has been root treated and needs strengthening.

Dental crowns are a form of restorative treatment that are able to make your existing tooth stronger, the procedure can be accomplished in as little as 2 appointments. Older crowns have a metal foundation and that is why your old crowns may have black lines.

Today we use new methods and fabricate crowns out of porcelain or ceramic. These are free of metal but extremely strong and offer a more natural cosmetic look. On occasions, however, at the very back of the mouth where forces are strong, we may still have to use metal lined crowns. But rest assured, we use porcelain around the margins so that teeth look as natural as possible while being strong enough to withstand the bite.

When treatment is complete the new crown may feel somewhat alien in your mouth, but this should last no longer than a couple of days. Your crown should last for a number of years, but only if you continue to maintain a good level of oral hygiene