A dental crown restores a tooth that is too badly decayed, fractured, or weakened for a regular filling. Dental crowns are typically porcelain coverings, or shells, that replace all of the outer, visible tooth structure. A dentist will reshape a damaged tooth to remove all compromised structure and create a strong core that a crown will be cemented over. These are extremely strong, permanent restorations that cannot be removed. They look just like a natural tooth, and with proper care will last a lifetime.