Tooth loss, significant decay and fractures can dramatically affect your appearance. Today's crowns and bridges are more beautiful than ever. You can restore any part of a tooth or replace missing teeth with natural looking crowns or bridges that will last for many years to come. Put simply, a crown is a restoration that covers, or caps a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size. Its purpose is to strengthen or improve the appearance of a tooth. Crowns are placed for a variety of reasons.