A dental crown, also known as a "cap" serves two important purposes.  First, it restores the appearance and function of a tooth, and secondly it preserves the integrity of your bite and your smile.

When a tooth has a failing large filling, advanced decay, or a fracture, there is usually not enough natural tooth structure to support another filling. However with proper design and preparation it may be possible to restore the tooth to optimal appearance and function with a crown.

A crown covers and protects the remaining tooth structure, restoring the tooth to its ideal shape. A well-made crown will keep your bite and jaw aligned; it will also ensure that other teeth don't shift or take on a greater share of the work of biting and chewing. Even when a back tooth isn’t visible in your smile, it is important in protecting the front teeth from excessive chewing forces. Teeth also support the muscles in our faces, so broken or missing teeth may affect the way you look.

For more information on dental crowns, call Dr. Doray at (215) 772-3100 . To view before and after pictures of actual cases, click here.