A dental crown is a tooth-shaped covering that is placed over an existing damaged or decayed tooth to restore strength, size and shape. It is typically cemented into place. Crowns can be made from various materials, including porcelain, resin and metal alloys.

Porcelain crowns are regarded as the most natural looking option. They are strong, stain resistant and closely resemble the appearance of a healthy tooth. They are the preferred choice for front teeth.

Resin crowns (often referred to as composite resin) are made from a combination of different plastic type materials that are colour matched to the surrounding teeth. This type of crown can be a good alternative to more traditional crown options where the patients are allergic to metals or require a crown to be fabricated faster than conventional labs can.

Dental Crowns: What Are They and When Do You Need One

Metal crowns are made from either noble metals such as gold or platinum, or base-metal alloys such as cobalt-chromium or nickel-chromium alloys. Metal crowns can withstand biting and chewing forces very well, and are an excellent option for back teeth that are out of sight, or where a patient suffers from a habit of grinding and clenching his or her teeth.

Discovery Dental WA is fabricated from a single block of ceramic material on our in-house CEREC machine, during a same-day appointment, without the need for impressions or waiting for a laboratory. However, they have one standard shade throughout the entire restoration and do not look as lifelike as a full porcelain crown.