Crown
A fixed prosthetic restoration that encases the entire visible portion of a tooth above the gumline, restoring its shape, size, strength, or aesthetics.
Full Definition
In restorative dentistry, a dental crown (also called a 'cap') is a tooth-shaped covering cemented over a prepared natural tooth or implant abutment. Crowns may be fabricated from porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM), full porcelain/ceramic, full metal, or zirconia, and these material distinctions must be specified precisely in laboratory instructions and clinical records. Editors must be careful to distinguish between the anatomical crown (the visible portion of a natural tooth) and the prosthetic crown (the restoration), as both usages appear in dental documents. The term is also distinguished from a 'veneer' (partial coverage) and a 'bridge' (multi-unit restoration).
Usage
Usage note: Clarify whether 'crown' refers to the anatomical crown or a prosthetic crown. Specify material (e.g. PFM, full ceramic, zirconia) in laboratory and clinical documents.
In Context
- "A full porcelain crown was prescribed for UR3 following significant tooth tissue loss due to erosion." — Laboratory prescription
- "The records refer to the 'crown' of the tooth when describing fracture extent—this is anatomical usage, not a prosthetic crown." — Editorial annotation