What Is a Dental Crown Made Of?

A dental crown is made up of various materials depending upon its function and the area of the mouth in which it will be placed. It can be made as a covering for a fractured tooth or a tooth with a large area of decay that cannot retain a filling, or a crown can be constructed solely for cosmetic purposes. (See "Additional Resources," below, for further information.)

Porcelain Crowns

• Porcelain crowns are tooth-colored restorations used mainly to cover fractured or decayed anterior (front) teeth. Porcelain is a fragile material and is not used on posterior (back) teeth involved in mastication (chewing).

Porcelain Veneers

• Porcelain veneers are thin porcelain crowns used on anterior teeth for cosmetic purposes only to close gaps and cover stained or misshapen teeth.

Porcelain Bonded to Metal Crowns

• A porcelain bonded to metal crown (gold, semi-precious or base metal) is less susceptible to fracturing and is used on posterior teeth that are badly broken down by decay, are fractured, have large existing fillings or have undergone root canal therapy.

All Metal Crowns

• Used mainly on posterior teeth, gold or combination metal crowns (base metals or semi-precious metals) are the strongest and considered physiologically superior.

Prefabricated Crowns

• Polycarbonate resin crowns (tooth-colored for anterior teeth) and stainless steel crowns (for posterior teeth) are preformed, come in different sizes and can be used temporarily as crowns. However, the fit and longevity are inferior to custom crowns prepared by a dentist and processed by a dental laboratory. (See "Additional Resources," below.)