Why do I need a crown?
When teeth break, eg due to trauma or dental decay, there are various options we use to fix them. If only a small amount of tooth has broken, or there is a small dental cavity, then a filling (direct restoration) can usually be used to fix it. We use materials such as resin composite and amalgam to do this. However, if a large part of the tooth is missing, or there is a crack in the tooth, it may benefit from a crown or onlay (indirect restoration). Before (top) and after (bottom) a crown. Before (top) and after (bottom) a crown. Crowns and onlays are restorations that are made in the dental laboratory, and then cemented or bonded onto the tooth. In order to fit a crown/onlay, the tooth needs to be carefully prepared into the right size and shape. These dental models show the tooth prep (top) and the new crown (bottom). The tooth preparation is different depending on the material used for the resto...