A dental crown or a cap is a fixed prosthetic object which is cemented onto a teeth. A dentist is the only person who can remove it once it is placed. The main purpose of placing a dental cap is to cover a damaged tooth, which in turn strengthens the tooth, thus improving the aesthetics and alignment in the mouth. Crowns are placed if any root canal treatments or wisdom tooth extractions are performed in one mouth.
Types of crowns
Crowns
When a tooth is heavily decayed, it is likely to fracture and lose considerable tooth substance. Crowns, also known as caps, restore damaged teeth and mimic the shape, size and colour of the surrounding teeth. Crowns are indicated for cracked teeth, teeth with deep cavities, to protect teeth that have been root-canal treated, to provide extra support for bridges and to cover poorly shaped or discoloured teeth.
Crowns can be made of metal, ceramic, or zirconia material. Among the variants, zirconia crowns are the hardest and most durable crowns available. They are custom-made and fitted for each patient, depending on the size and length of the natural teeth.
The tooth to be crowned is prepared by reducing the size of the tooth, by employing local anaesthesia. This is done to make space for the crown that is to be fitted. An impression of the tooth is then taken to measure the exact size. The impression is then sent to a laboratory where skilled technicians fabricate the crown. A temporary crown is fitted to avoid damages to the natural tooth while the crown is being prepared in the lab.
