Everyone has heard of a crown or a cap for a tooth. These terms are used interchangeably to mean an extensive restoration that covers most or all of the tooth. A crown is needed to restore a tooth back to a healthy state when the tooth has been weakened. This happens when a tooth has a root canal or has had a large filling for a long time. Many times we see teeth with large silver fillings that have fractures along the edges from the stresses inherent in the filling design. A well made crown will strengthen a tooth, make it look better, make it healthier, and provide many years of good service.
Crowns typically last from 5-10 years before bacteria find their way between the crown and tooth. However, with good oral hygiene, they can many times last longer.