The crown of a tooth is the portion of the tooth that’s visible.
It contains three parts:
- Anatomical crown. This is the top portion of a tooth. It’s usually the only part of a tooth that you can see.
- Enamel. This is the outermost layer of a tooth. As the hardest tissue in your body, it helps to protect teeth from bacteria. It also provides strength so your teeth can withstand pressure from chewing.
- Dentin. Dentin is a layer of mineralized tissue just below the enamel. It extends from the crown down through the neck and root. It protects teeth from heat and cold.