Imagine having one of your teeth pulled not because you have to do it, but rather you want to. Why? Because you plan to replace it with a gold crown and let everyone know how well-off you are! Such is the (not so) humble beginning of what we now know as the dental crown, a procedure where a custom-made restoration is fitted over a damaged tooth to repair its strength and appearance. It’s one of the most common dental procedures performed around the globe, but the crowns of today are much different than the luxury items they used to be.