What is a dental crown?

what is a dental crown? it is just a layer covering a tooth or the dentist will remove my tooth first? i saw some which there is nails sticking out of the gums... its so disgustinggggggg. im going to get a crown but im not sure what will they do.can any one tell me more about the process? i broke my front tooth when i was young and the dentist helped me with fillings. but now im 16 and my tooth is turing very yellow... the colour is very different from the filling. i did a root canal. can any one tell me what is the process of a crown? does it hurt???

What is a dental crown?
i have a few crowns mainly b/c the original tooth had become weak from having large fillings from years ago and needed to be repaired. A dental crown is a"cover" so to speak over your orginal tooth. The process, at least is my case is this: the doctor takes a mold of your mouth, for the tooth involved and the teeth around the affected tooth..he will then file or shape your original tooth and then make a mold of the impression which results in a "fake" tooth which will be temporarily glued in place overe the original tooth. The temporary crown will remain in place until the permanent crown is completed, depending on the dentist office might be a week, maybe a month..the crown is then adhered to the remaining original tooth ...thats my best definition
Reply:a dental crown is a peice of metal covered round ur teeth ussally coz of a caferty
Reply:no the nerve of your tooth gets took out first, its a bit like a false tooth i think they use a bit of your tooth to keep it in or something?? but the actual crown gets made its not painfull the only thing is they only last 10 yrs and can sometimes fall out??
Reply:well they filed my sons down very small then put a crown on and it looks like a normal tooth now. i dont think it will hurt they will numb it