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Crowns (caps)
A crown (sometimes called a ‘cap’) is a permanent covering that fits over a tooth that is severely decayed, cracked or unable to support a large filling.
Crowns can be made of a variety of different materials such as porcelain, gold, metal alloys, or a combination of these. Most often, crowns are made of a metal alloy for the portion that touches the tooth and porcelain all around that to give the look and feel of a natural tooth.
To crown a tooth, the dentist reshapes the tooth to remove unhealthy structure and to create the space the crown needs for strength. Generally this results in the tooth becoming a smaller, more cylindrical shape than before. At the end of the appointment, you will leave with a plastic temporary crown that mimics the size and shape of the old tooth. A couple of weeks later, at the second appointment, the temporary is swapped out for the new crown, the fit is closely verified, and then the crown is then permanently cemented on the tooth.
Although most crowns are made with porcelain and metal, sometimes a higher degree of esthetics is desired. Newer materials such as Lava and eMax all-ceramic crowns will never show a dark line at the gums and can be made to enhance the translucency and color dynamics of a tooth that sits front and center in your smile. The technology available today to make a crown that is strong, beautiful and lifelike is truly incredible.