A crown is a procedure in which a damaged tooth is covered in order to strengthen and preserve the tooth. The tooth may have been damaged by decay, a previous fractured restoration or may have a significant crack. If a tooth requires a root canal, it then may be “crowned” if sufficient tooth is missing or if the dentist feels that the tooth will last longer by protecting it with the crown. All fabricated crowns are entirely tooth colored to maximize esthetics without compromising strength.