At times, a tooth can become too compromised due to fracture, previous/old large and failing restorations, or due to the severity of the cavity present.  When this is the case, a crown is often proposed as the best treatment  option for the patient.  Crowns are custom made prosthetics that mimic the appearance of a natural tooth and are placed over the remaining tooth structure.  The remaining tooth structure becomes encased in porcelain, a high noble metal or a combination of porcelain and metal.  Crowns provide strength and protection for the underlying tooth structure but can also improve esthetics by changing the shape, shade, and positioning of teeth. 
Here at Alton Bay Dental we can use CEREC technology in order to obtain a virtual impression of the tooth, where we can then create/design and mill the crown to be delivered in the same appointment.  These crowns typically allow for conservation of more healthy tooth structure and help in limiting post-operative sensitivity.