Dental Crowns

A dental crown is needed when the natural tooth structure has weakened, broken or affected by tooth decay.

A dental crown is needed when the natural tooth structure has weakened, broken or affected by tooth decay. In comparison, a filling is used to fill a small portion of the tooth whereas a crown is used when the tooth has extensive damage.

There are three basic categories of crowns: full porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, and metal (usually gold.)


For heavily compromised teeth, a traditional treatment has been a crown restoration which can take several appointments.


Using the CEREC method, crown resotration is completed in a single appointment. No impressions, no temporary crowns - no need for a second injection.


The result is an imperceptible crown that blends with your natural teeth in a treatment time of only one to two hours.

Full Porcelain

This is the most aesthetic of all types of crowns. The colour mimics the shades of your natural teeth where it is very difficult to distinguish between the natural tooth and the crown itself. Full porcelain crowns are metal free and satisfy the needs of patients with metal sensitivities. Full porcelain crowns are made using CAD/CAM technology at Cambridge City Dental.

Porcelain fused to Metal

These types of crowns have a metal substructure. An opaque layer is fused to the metal framework prior to application. As such, it is difficult to re-create the translucency of natural teeth. In most instances however, porcelain fused to metal crowns can be highly aesthetic and are stronger than the full porcelain crowns.

Metal (Gold)

Gold crowns are usually used in areas of the mouth that are not so visible. They have an excellent adaptation to the tooth and do not chip. They are also used in cases where occlusal (bite) problems exist as they can withstand far greater forces and are softer to bite on.