A. Is A Dental Crown The Same Thing As A Cap?
If you’ve ever had a problem with your teeth, you’ve probably heard of the useful dental crown. Crowns are popular dental appliances that have been used in modern dentistry for decades. Dental crowns are used to restore a tooth’s functionality and appearance.
1. What are dental crowns?
What many dental patients may not know is that the term “coping” is often used to describe a dental crown. A cap and a crown are the same – “cap” is just a descriptive term for the device. Dental crowns are prosthetic tooth caps that are permanently placed over a prepared tooth. Seriously damaged, infected, or decayed teeth can benefit from a crown.
2. The procedure
First, the dentist cleans your teeth. Tooth preparation is a process in which the dentist uses a dental drill and other tools to remove some of the tooth structure to make room for the crown. The tooth is molded into a pin-like abutment. After the tooth is prepared, an impression of the mouth is made. This impression is then sent to the dental laboratory to create a custom crown. When the crown is ready, there is a second appointment for its placement. The dentist will first test the crown to make sure it is shaped correctly. Finally, the tooth-shaped, tooth-colored cap is firmly cemented onto the prepared tooth. The coping completely encloses the tooth above the gumline and effectively restores the functionality and appearance of the tooth.
3. What are dental crowns made of?
Crowns can be made from a variety of materials. The most popular type of crown is the all-porcelain crown due to its natural look and durability. Alloy crowns and porcelain crowns fused to metal are not as popular as they don’t blend in as well with the rest of your teeth. Also, metal-fused crowns tend to have a dark ring around the gumline, especially when gum recession occurs.
4. What are crowns for?
Dental crowns are often used to restore severely broken, cracked, weakened, decayed, or discolored teeth. Teeth that have recently undergone root canal treatment often need to be supported by a dental crown as the procedure causes the teeth to hollow and thus become weak. Badly discolored teeth with deep stains or a grayish appearance are also good candidates for dental crowns. Crowns are designed to effectively cover the tooth and protect it from further damage to prevent tooth decay. These caps should last a decade or more. With proper care, crowns can last a lifetime.
5. Care of your dental crown
Most of the time, a crown can be treated like a natural tooth. Brush and floss the crown daily to keep it clean. Although the crown is resistant to tooth decay because it is made of artificial materials, the gums and surrounding teeth are still vulnerable to bacterial attack. Optimal hygiene is essential to ensure the longevity of a dental crown. Just like natural teeth, crowns can still be damaged. Avoid habits like chewing ice cream or pencils, and try to control conditions like bruxism (teeth grinding) to protect a crown.
B. What Is The Difference Between A Dental Cap Or A Crown?
Sometimes you hear people talking about dental caps and crowns and get confused about the difference between these dental treatments. It may seem like the two words are used interchangeably – and that’s because they’re the same thing! There is no difference between a cap and a crown. Dental crowns have long been called caps, and even today the term “cap” is heard among the elderly and non-dentists.
1. What are dental caps/crowns?
A dental crown is a denture that completely covers the tooth. Crowns can be made of metal or porcelain and can be attached to the tooth. They are used to cover broken or decayed teeth or teeth that have been chipped or damaged. Sometimes they can also be used for cosmetic reasons, even on undamaged teeth. In order to attach a crown, the dentist must drill into the tooth to provide an area for the crown to be attached. Crowns must be custom made for the tooth in question, so it often takes more than one visit to fit a crown. At the first visit, the dentist will examine your mouth and take the necessary measurements/map to fit the crown. Then they will send the information to the lab so they can make the crown for you.
2. Temporary Crowns
If your tooth is badly damaged, your dentist can provide you with a temporary crown to cover the damaged area while the permanent crown is made. Temporary crowns are made of acrylic or composite material, so they don’t last as long as a ceramic or metal crown.
3. Choosing the right material
- Ceramic crowns are very popular because they look very natural, so at first glance it is difficult to tell that they are not normal teeth. Metal crowns can be gold or white (silver).
- Gold crowns are not pure gold as gold is a very soft metal and would not be strong enough to serve as a denture. Instead, they are made from a gold alloy, which is a mixture of gold and an inert, base metal.
- Ceramic crowns are a popular choice for your front teeth because they look so natural, but they are brittle and more prone to cracking or chipping, so you need to take good care of them.
- A popular compromise is Porcelain Fused to Metal – a hybrid where the inner part of the crown is metal covered with ceramic to make it look nicer. The layers don’t look as natural, but the crown should last longer.
4. How much do crowns cost?
The cost of a dental cap or crown can vary depending on where the crown needs to be placed, how damaged the underlying tooth is, and what material the crown is to be made of. Are you looking for a reliable dental clinic in Taylors Lakes Australia for your dental crown treatment? In that case Gardens Dental is the place for you. Gardens Dental offers a full range of dental services in Taylors Lakes and Caroline Springs to help you and your family maintain healthy teeth. So don’t put off dental care. If you have a chipped or damaged tooth or are concerned about your oral health, call us as soon as possible. We would love to work with you and help you find the best crown, cap or filling for your needs.
C. Dental Caps Vs Crowns: What Should You Know?
If you’ve been reading a lot about dental crowns lately, you may have also come across the term “tooth caps”. This can often make you wonder what they are. To clarify and answer your questions, here is an in-depth article highlighting – dental caps vs. crowns.
1. Tooth caps vs. crowns: is there a difference?
A dental crown and a dental cap are the same. Cap is the lay term for crown – meaning a “cap” is just another name for a “crown”. So there is no difference. Some even call them veneer caps because they technically “envelop” a tooth. A dental crown is also known as a cap, a type of filling that fits over what remains of the tooth to restore its natural appearance and protect it from further damage. A tooth needs a crown (or cap) for strength and support, or if the tooth is excessively missing for a restoration. There are many ways to protect a tooth. Typically, a dentist covers the tooth with a material that can be porcelain, metal (gold), or a mixture of both.
Dental crowns provide both oral and cosmetic benefits, strengthening tooth structure and also helping a person’s smile look natural again. Typically, dental crowns are custom made to blend seamlessly with the patient’s natural tooth. They are carefully crafted to match the surrounding teeth in size, color, texture and shape. Restores the integrity of the patient’s bite.
2. Use of dental crowns (or covers)
As mentioned above, a dental crown is mainly used to repair damaged teeth. These teeth may be broken, weakened, or chipped due to decay.
There are several reasons why dental crowns can be created for a tooth. Generally, a dentist routinely uses them to:
- Improve the appearance of the tooth
- Protect broken tooth debris from damage
- Support the denture or bridge in the mouth
- Strengthen and repair damaged teeth
- Covering a dental implant
- Covering up a discolored or deformed tooth
- Protect a weak tooth
While there are other alternative treatments, there is no dental restoration that can offer the same benefits as a dental crown.
3. What is a dental crown (cover) made of?
While there are different types of dental materials used for crowns, the most common are:
- Metal Alloy: includes materials such as platinum, gold, palladium, and other base metals. These can be yellow (or gold) or white (or silvery).
- Dental ceramics: includes materials such as zirconium oxide or porcelain that are colored to match the surrounding teeth.
- Porcelain fused to metal: This is the combination of the above two, with ceramic (outside) and metal crown (inside). These are also known as PFM crowns.
If you have a temporary crown while a permanent crown is being made, it’s likely a composite or acrylic material. Also note that a gold crown is never 100% pure gold, as gold in its purest form is too soft and cannot do the job well. This is how gold is melted with other metals so that it becomes a strong gold alloy. Now the actual gold grade here could range from 20% to 77%. Because gold is a precious metal, dental crowns made from gold are expensive compared to those made from metallic (non-precious) alloys. These are silver in color and usually contain cobalt, chromium and nickel.
4. Which material to choose for dental crowns?
Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, the right material for the crown depends on:
- How should the tooth look aesthetically?
- The tooth to be sealed
- How long should it take?
a. Ceramic crowns
A ceramic crown is shaped in the lab and built up layer by layer, giving it a slightly translucent appearance that resembles natural teeth. This property makes it a popular choice, especially for anterior teeth. However, the downside of ceramic material is that despite its toughness, it is brittle compared to metal. It is prone to chipping or cracking.
b. Golden Crowns
A gold crown and those made of metal alloys are more durable. It has the added benefit of being more biocompatible with teeth, meaning a clipped tooth shouldn’t cause wear or damage if a person bites into it. However, the obvious disadvantage of a metal crown is its color. Most people will not prefer a silver or gold tooth that is so clearly visible, even when in the back.
c. PFM crowns (porcelain fused to metal)
PFM crowns offer the strength of metal + the aesthetics of a porcelain crown. But they don’t look like natural teeth because of their layering. There is a possibility that the ceramic coating will crack or chip. However, the metal underneath remains intact.
5. How to prepare for a crown or tooth cap?
The preparation of a dental crown usually requires 2 visits to the dentist.
- At the first visit, the dentist will first examine and prepare the tooth.
- At the second visit, the dentist places the crown on the damaged tooth.
During the first visit, a dentist may take X-rays to check the roots of the tooth and nearby bone to make sure there is no risk of infection or tooth decay. A dentist then injects a local anesthetic to numb the area before filing the tooth (this is done to make room for the crown). Once the tooth is reshaped, the dentist takes an impression of the tooth using putty or paste. This print will serve as a template for your hat (or crown) which will be made in 2-3 weeks. In the meantime, the damaged tooth will be fitted with a temporary crown to protect it. At the second visit, the dentist removes the temporary crown and cements the permanent crown in place, making sure the color and fit are appropriate.
6. Conclusion
I hope you now understand the difference between dental caps and dental crowns. They mean the same thing and are just alternative names. If you are planning to get a beautiful dental crown for your tooth, here are some things to keep in mind. Dental crowns should be cleaned just like your natural teeth. Even if the materials used to build up the crowns don’t deteriorate, the edge of the tooth can. Therefore, it is recommended that the patient brush their teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste using an interdental brush.
