A crown is the name of the area that covers the top of the tooth.  When the top of your tooth is damaged, a gold, metal or porcelain crown may be the answer.  Many of the crowns made today are a combination of gold and porcelain, but for people with alergies to metal, an all-porcelain crown, also known  as a ceramic crown, is possible.  Unlike metal crowns that react to hot and cold, people report that porcelain crowns reduces the sensations and drinking tea and eating ice cream is enjoyable!