Dental crowns, also known as dental caps, cover damaged or discolored teeth. Crowns cover the entire tooth, starting at the gum line. They are usually made of gold, porcelain, or a combination of both. Dentists recommend crowns to protect or strengthen weakened teeth, or to restore a disfigured tooth to its original shape. There are three types of crowns: metal, ceramic or porcelain fused to metal (PFM). Metal crowns are used mainly on the back teeth, and are made of gold alloy, palladium, nickel alloy or chromium alloy.

Ceramic crowns are made with no metal and are esthetically more pleasing.