What are Caps and Crowns?

If you’ve never had extensive dental work done before, you may not know some of the common methods that your Phoenix dentist uses to restore your beaming smile.  As progress is made in the dental industry, there are more options and procedures available to give you that movie star look. Here’s a look at one of the most basic methods of tooth restoration.

A dental crown or cap is a type of restoration in which a “cap” is created using various types of materials that is then placed over an existing tooth or dental implant to restore its shape and size and to improve its strength and appearance.  Your Phoenix dentist may recommend a crown or cap for the following reasons:

• To keep  a weakened tooth from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth
• To restore a broken or severely worn tooth
• To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there’s not much of the original tooth left.
• To keep a dental bridge in place
• To cover severely discolored or misshapen teeth
• To cover a dental implant
• To improve the appearance of a tooth.

A dental crown is usually bonded to the tooth using a dental cement. Crowns can be made from many types of materials, such as metals, stainless steel, resin, porcelain or zirconia.  Typically, your dentist makes an impression of your tooth and creates the crown in a lab.  Once the crown is made, it’s placed and cemented in your mouth on the next appointment.  The crown, when placed, fully encases the visible portion of your tooth above the gum line.

If you want a healthy, beautiful smile again and you have badly-worn teeth that need to be restored, talk to your Maricopa Dental Office about your options.