what's a crown (from a dental point of view)?

[krystle]

when a dentist puts in a crown, what is that?

[enamel]

A crown is a new tooth that covers the old tooth, either completely or partially. Crowns are indicated when the original tooth is either too broken down to hold a filling or already has a large filling in it. They are a long term solution to an otherwise compromised situation. Hope this helps.

[Maurice B]

It is a cap that is fitted over the remainder of a broken or damaged tooth. It can be made of porcelain, colour matched to look much like the original tooth, or it can be made of other materials, such as gold.

The dentist may drill into the root of the original tooth and cement in a 'post' which is a small rod. The crown will fit over this post and will be cemented to it, so securing it in your mouth.