Dental crowns are used to change or improve the structure of the teeth.

They are suitable for cracked, broken or decayed teeth. Traditionally, metallic crowns made of gold or gold alloy, chromium alloy, palladium, or nickel alloy were used for this purpose.

Old metallic crowns are prone to wear and tear and their colour contrasts sharply with the whiteness of the surrounding teeth. Also, bacteria can build underneath the crown, leading to tooth decay or gum disease. Some people now prefer porcelain crowns to rebuild the teeth because these can be made to look and feel like natural teeth.