Crowning or capping is the process by which the entire surface of the tooth is removed and replaced with a covering (or crown) made of porcelain and occasionally bonded to gold.

Two appointments are needed. During the first visit, the dentist removes about one millimeter of tooth structure. An imprint of the tooth is then taken, so that a model from which the crown is fabricated can be made. Next, the prepared tooth is covered with a temporary restoration to last until the second visit. The permanent crown is fitted to the tooth on the second visit. Adjustments are made for shape and color so the crown matches the natural teeth. It is then permanently cemented onto the tooth.

The advantages are that the shade can be altered as desired; overall tooth shape can be changed , and the result is esthetically pleasing.

The disadvantages are as follows: crowning involves the removal of a considerable amount of tooth structure and is, therefore, not reversible as the color of the adjacent teeth changes with time, the crown does not change, resulting in a mismatch between the natural teeth and the bond; if the gums shrink, an unsightly line might be visible at the gum line; the life expectancy of a crown is 5 to 20 years , and longer dental appointments are needed than for bonding.