Dental crowns. Close-up of the upper incisor teeth (front 4 teeth) of a 45-year-old female patient, restored with dental crowns. A crown is an artificial cap which fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth and is shaped like a natural tooth. The decayed parts of this patient's original teeth were removed and the root canals filled. Prefabricated metal posts were cemented into holes drilled into the prepared remainders of the teeth. These prosthetic ceramic crowns were then mounted on the posts.