A dental crown or more commonly known as a dental “cap” is typically used when a tooth is damaged, cracked, weakened or decayed. Crowns are made to match the color of your natural teeth and can be used to improve your teeth’s appearance, shape and alignment. Unlike your natural teeth, crowns are not capable of being bleached. For this reason, most patients consider at home or in office whitening before choosing the shade of their crown. Crowns are typically cemented onto existing teeth and with proper maintenance, they can last many years to even decades. A healthy crown cannot easily come out and can only be removed by your dentist.