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901 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo CA 94402   800.633.3333   7 Days

Dr. Leslie Hsu
Assistant Clinical Professor
in Crowns & Bridges

CROWNS

Dental crowns (also sometimes referred to as ‘dental caps’ or ‘tooth caps’)

cover over and encase the tooth on which they are cemented. Dentists use

crowns when rebuilding broken or decayed teeth, as a way to strengthen

teeth and as method to improve their cosmetic appearance.

Crowns are made in a dental laboratory by a dental technician who uses

moulds of your teeth made by your dentist.The type of crown your dentist

recommends will depend on the tooth involved and sometimes on your

preference. Types of crowns include porcelain crowns, porcelain bonded to

metal crowns, and gold alloy crowns. There are many reasons why one

type of crowns may be chosen over another. For example, your dentist

may recommend a metal crown for molars, especially if you have a

heavy bite or you grind your teeth at night. Or your dentist may also

suggest a combination of metal and porcelain, using metal only on the

chewing surface and at the gum area, as an alternative method for those

who grind their teeth. Your dentist will be able to discuss all the methods

that will best work for you.