Teeth, Caps & Restoration

Dental caps, also called crowns, are a type of dental restoration for teeth. A dentist fits a cap, which is in the shape of a natural tooth, over the remaining piece or whole tooth to make it strong, usable and more attractive.

Function

• Caps and dental restorations might be needed to protect a weakened tooth, restore a broken tooth, cover severely discolored teeth, improve appearance, cover a dental implant or hold a dental bridge in place. Dental crowns are held into place with cement to completely cover the visible section of the tooth.

Types

• According to WebMD, crowns are made from a variety of materials. Gold alloy, palladium or nickel caps last longer than other materials. Porcelain fused to metal crowns are color-matched to adjacent teeth. All-resin caps are the least expensive but wear down over time. All-ceramic or all-porcelain crowns are not as strong as the others, but they provide the best color match to natural teeth.

Warnings

• According to WebMD, problems can develop with dental caps. A capped tooth can be sensitive to heat and cold, and crowns might chip, become loose or fall off. Rarely, an allergic reaction to the metals in the crown will occur. Your dentist will be able to fix or replace crowns that have become problematic.