It depends on several factors:
Is the tooth in the front or at the back?
- Front teeth require more aesthetic crowns to allow the crown to blend in with the natural teeth or a crown may be used to cover a discoloured tooth.
Is there a heavy bite or grinding of the teeth?
- A back tooth (molar) that has been cracked due to the patient's bite force would be better served with a more durable full metal crown rather than a beautiful but brittle porcelain crown.
- For the terminal tooth (the last tooth in the arch, with no other tooth behind it), metal crowns are advised for durability.
What is your budget?
- This will determine what type of material your dentist will choose since different materials will be priced differently.
I have covered the different types of crown materials in a previous answer here (https://www.human.com.sg/questions/what-kinds-of-crowns-may-be-used-for-an-upper-premolar-fifth-tooth-after-root-canal-treatment).
