Crowns

If your tooth is damaged but not lost, a crown (also called a cap) can be used to cover the damaged part of your tooth. A crown protects your tooth from further damage. You may need a crown if:

• You have a root canal;
• You have a large filling in a tooth;
• You have a broken tooth;
• Your tooth is badly stained, not the right shape or out of line.

Crowns can be made of different kinds of metals, porcelain or porcelain fused to metal. They are strong and last for about 10 years, if you take good care of them. Brush and floss your crown, just like you clean your natural teeth. But crowns and replacement teeth may not be as strong as your natural teeth, so:

• Do not bite down on hard objects;
• Do not use your teeth to open or cut things;
• Do not do these these things with your natural teeth either.