A crown is a tooth cap that is used to provide support for any damaged or decayed tooth. It also helps in maintaining the proper shape, size, and functions of a tooth and ultimately makes it stronger. Additionally, a tooth crown makes a damaged tooth appear aesthetically pleasant.

Following are some of the conditions when you will probably need a dental crown:

• Your tooth has a dental cavity that is very deep and large 
• Your tooth is damaged, neglected or weak 
• You have just undergone a root canal treatment to restore damaged teeth
• You want to conceal an ugly looking damaged or discoloured tooth that will boost up your appearance

There are a wide variety of dental crowns available meant to serve different purposes. Most of the tooth crowns are permanent and either made up of stainless steel, metallic items like gold, or any other alloy, porcelain fused with metal, resin, and ceramic.

• Stainless steel:- Stainless steel tooth crowns are used over permanent teeth that help in protecting the tooth while a permanent crown is made of some other different material. A stainless steel tooth cap is mostly used for children’s primary tooth. The shape and sizes of the dental crown are made in customized shape and size so that it can entirely cover the entire tooth and protect from further decay. When the permanent tooth starts coming out by replacing the temporary tooth, the stainless steel crown slowly comes out. Overall, stainless steel crowns are mostly used for children’s teeth so that they do not have to visit multiple dental sessions. This makes the overall procedure cost-effective.
• Metals:- Metallic tooth cap mostly include alloys that have a high content of gold and platinum or any other metal-based alloys like cobalt-chromium or even nickel-chromium alloys. Metallic dental crowns are usually robust and can withstand any vigorous activity like biting, chewing for the most extended period, and they rarely break. However, the main drawback is its price, but it is an excellent choice for the molars that cannot be seen easily.
• Porcelain blended with metal:- These are dental crowns that usually matches the colour of all of its neighbouring teeth. But one of the most crucial drawbacks is the teeth opposite to the porcelain dental crowns wears off quickly in comparison to metallic or resin dental crowns. However, porcelain tooth caps are also very prone to cracking or breaking. Most of the ceramic crowns and porcelain fused with metallic crowns are looks natural teeth. In most of the cases, a dark line appears at the gum line, and the gum may also start disappearing. Porcelain blended metal crowns are the best choice for using it in the front and back teeth where the metal needs strength. 
• Resin:- Resin dental crowns are the least expensive tooth caps that are currently available in the market. But the worst part is resin crown wears off quickly, and they are more prone to damage in comparison to porcelain fused metallic crowns.
• Entirely ceramic or porcelain:- Ceramic dental crown appears natural, and the colour matches precisely match to the natural teeth. This tooth cap is perfect for people who has allergies to metal and can be used for both front and back tooth.
• Temporary and permanent dental crowns:- The temporary crowns are made instantly in the dentist’s office and are mostly prepared with some acrylic-based material or stainless steel. The permanent dental crown is made in a professional dental laboratory.