Dental caps, more correctly known as Dental Crowns, are used by dentists to cover the entire tooth as opposed to fillings which are used to patch holes in teeth. A filling fills a part of the tooth whereas a cap covers the whole tooth.Caps are predesigned custom made covers so as to protect root systems that have become exposed due to decayed, diseased, or injured teeth Caps can be made of metal, porcelain or plastic, with porcelain being the most expensive, but most durable. They are the most important part of a cosmetic surgery used to beautify existing teeth that don't suffer from any serious complications.


When Is a Dental Crown Needed?

A Dental Crown may be needed in the following situations:

• If you have an overbite, bruxism, old fillings, sensitive teeth, or a history of various dental issue.
• To protect a weak tooth (for instance, from decay) from breaking or to hold together parts of a cracked tooth.
• To restore an already broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down.
• To cover and support a tooth with a large filling when there isn't a lot of tooth left.
• To hold a dental bridge in its place.
• To cover misshaped or severely discolored teeth.
• To protect a dental implant.

What are the different Types of Crown Materials Available?

1. Crowns made up of matal include gold alloy, other alloys for example, palladium or a base-metal alloy for example, nickel or chromium. ess tooth structure needs to be removed with metal crowns when compared with other crown types. Metal crowns withstand biting and chewing forces well and probably last the longest in terms of wear down. Also, they rarely chip or break. The metallic color is the main drawback. Metal crowns are a good choice for out-of- sight molars.
2. Porcelain-fused-to-metal Dental Crowns are made to match color to your adjacent teeth, unlike the metallic crowns. But compared with metal or resin crowns, more wearing to the opposing teeth occurs with this crown type . Their is a chance of crown's porcelain portion to chip or break off. However next to all-ceramic crowns, porcelain- fused-to-metal crowns look most like normal teeth. But, sometimes the metal underlying the crown's porcelain can show through as a dark line, especially at the gum line and even more so if your gums recede. These crowns can be a good choice for front or back teeth.
3. .All-resin Dental Crowns are less expensive than other crown types. However, they wear down over time and are more prone to fractures than porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
4. All-ceramic or all-porcelain Dental Crowns provide the best natural color match than any other crown type and may be more suitable for people with metal allergies.But, they wear down opposing teeth a little more than metal or resin crowns that is they are not as strong as porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. All-ceramic crowns are a good choice for front teeth.
5. Temporary versus permanent. Temporary crowns can be made in your dentist's office whereas permanent crowns are made in a dental laboratory. Temporary crowns are made of acrylic or stainless steel and can be used as a temporary restoration until a permanent crown is constructed by the dental laboratory.

What are the steps in Preparing a Tooth for a Crown?

It typically takes two separate appointments for a dentist to make a dental crown for a tooth ,the first appointment involves examining and preparing the tooth, the second visit involves placement of the permanent crown.

1. First Visit:
   
   
   1. Examining and preparing the tooth.
      
      Your dentist may take a few X-rays to check the roots of the tooth receiving the crown and surrounding bone. If the tooth has extensive decay or if there is a risk of infection or injury to the tooth's pulp, a root canal treatment may first be performed.Before the process of making your dental crown is begun your dentist will anesthetize (numb) both your tooth and the gum tissue which lies around it.
      
      
   2. Your dentist will shape your tooth.
      
      Next, the tooth receiving the crown is filed down along the chewing surface and sides to make room for the crown. In order to have adequate strength and, in the case of porcelain type crowns, proper aesthetics, a dental crown must possess a certain minimal thickness. .Your tooth in turn must be reduced by this same amount so once the crown is cemented into place on your tooth will not be oversized. In most cases the minimal crown thickness that is required will lie on the order of about two millimeters or so, which is just a little more than a sixteenth of an inch.The amount removed depends on the type of crown used (for instance, all-metal crowns are thinner, requiring less tooth structure removal than all-porcelain or porcelain-fused-to-metal ones)
      In those areas where a portion of your tooth has already broken off your dentist may find that they have very little tooth reduction to perform. If, on the other hand, a large area of the tooth is missing (due to decay or damage), your dentist will use filling material to "build up" the tooth to support the crown. As a part of the trimming process your dentist also will ensure that any decay that is present has been removed from your tooth. Shaping a tooth for a dental crown.
      Besides reducing your tooth so it is smaller in size your dentist must also shape your tooth in a specific fashion. A tooth receiving a dental crown must be slightly tapered in form so the crown will slip over and onto the tooth.
      
      
   3. Your dentist will make an impression of your tooth.
      
      Once your tooth has been shaped appropriately your dentist will take an impression of the tooth to receive the crown.Your crown will then in turn be made from this impression. There are two scenarios by which this impression taking process can take place:
      
      1. Most dentists will use a putty-like material simply called "impression material" to take an impression of your tooth This impression is sent to a dental laboratory that will use it to create a plaster cast. A dental technician will fabricate your crown so it fits accurately on the plaster cast. The crown made will fit on your tooth since the cast is a precise representation of your teeth .Mostly time required to fabricate dental crowns usually lies on the order of two weeks to three weeks.
         
      2. Your dentist might use a dental ceramic milling machine .These machines can take an impression of your tooth opticall by the camera attached to it. In a matter of some minutes these machine can subsequently design your dental crown from the image and then create it by milling down a block of dental ceramic ("porcelain"). The advantage of this technique is that in one visit a tooth can be shaped and its dental crown cemented into place. However if your dentist avoid a ceramic milling machine it can be for some good reason. These Milling machines can only be used to fabricate all ceramic ("porcelain") crowns and your dentist may feel that the physical properties and/or the aesthetics of this type of crown are not appropriate for your situation.
         The greater the amount of tooth structure that extends up into the interior of a dental crown the more stable the crown will be. There can be times when so much of a tooth has broken off that a dentist will feel that they must "build up" a tooth with filling material first (make the tooth taller) before they do the final shaping for the crown.
         
         
   4. A temporary Dental Crown will be made for your tooth.
      
      If your dental crown will be created in a dental laboratory you will have to wait the two to three weeks required for your crown to be fabricated. During this time period a temporary dental crown will cover your tooth that is made by your dentist. This temporary crown is typically made from plastic or else a thin shell of metal, will be cemented into place over your tooth.
      
      
   5. Your dentist will then select the proper shade of porcelain for your dental crown.
      
      If your crown will have a porcelain surface your dentist will need to determine what shade of porcelain most closely matches your tooth's neighboring teeth. Your dentist will select various porcelain samples from a shade guide and hold them in the area your new crown will occupy, until they find the one that most closely matches the color of your tooth's neighboring teeth.
   
   
2. Second Visit:
   
   Receiving the permanent dental crown. At your second visit, your dentist will remove your temporary crown and check the fit and color of the permanent crown. If everything is acceptable, a local anesthetic will be used to numb the tooth and the new crown is permanently cemented in place.

How Should I Care for My Temporary Dental Crown?

Dentists suggest that a few precautions to be taken with your temporary crown as because temporary dental crowns are just a temporary fix until a permanent crown is ready. These include:

1. Do not take sticky, chewy foods for example chewing gum or caramel which have the chance of grabbing and pulling off the crown.
2. You should minimize the use of the side of your mouth with the temporary crown. Do the most of your chewing by the other side of your mouth.
3. You should chewing hard foods such as raw vegetables, which can break the crown, dislodge or damage it. Slide flossing material out-rather than lifting out-when cleaning your teeth. Lifting the floss out, as you normally would, can pull off the temporary crown.

What is the recovery time for Dental Crown?

The area where you had the work done may ache for a day or so and it may feel strange for a few days until you get used to the new cap. However, after 24 hours you will achive full strength and will be able to chew on that tooth.

Does replacing Old Dental Crowns needed?

You may be interested in replacing old dental crowns for a number of reasons.

In some cases the appearance of metal crowns on prominent teeth may compel some patients to have their dental work restored with all ceramic or porcelain crowns.

In some other cases, dental crown problems like wear, decay, or poor fit may lead patients to inquire about replacing older dental crowns. After approximately 10 to 15 years patients should expect to replace their dental crowns.

Does a Crowned Tooth Require Any Special Care?

A crowned tooth does not require any special care. But we should remember that simply because a tooth is crowned that does not mean the underlying tooth is protected from decay or gum disease. Therefore, you should follow good oral hygiene practices, including brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day especially around the crown area where the gum meets the tooth.

How much do Dental Crown cost?

The average cost of a dental crown varies between dental practices depending on where you go for your treatment and what part of the country you live in . The price will depend on the skill of the dentist, the quality of the crown and the materials used, and the number of teeth you are having crowned. Often, the type of dental crown plays the most significant role in determining its price. For example, all ceramic or porcelain crowns tend to cost more than other types of dental crowns because they are more time-consuming and require greater skill to be applied correctly. Additionally, because all porcelain crowns provide the most natural appearance, they typically cost more than porcelain fused to metal or all metal crowns. Generally, crowns can range in cost from $500 to $900 or more per crown. A portion of the cost of crowns is generally covered by insurance. To be certain, check with your dental insurance company.

Is Dental Crown always the best option? Dental Crowns should not be the first choice just to improve the aesthetics of your teeth, because a dentist needs to grind a significant portion of the original tooth away. Less invasive alternatives include veneers or dental bonding. Crowns are required when the strength of the tooth supporting the restoration is compromised, since veneers and dental bonding restorations are only as strong as the supporting tooth.

What Problems you can face with Dental Crowns?

• Discomfort: As the anesthesia begins to wear off immediately after the procedure your newly crowned tooth may be sensitive. You may experience some heat and cold sensitivity in case if the tooth that is crowned still has a nerve in it. Brush your teeth with toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth may recommend by your dentist . Call yor dentist if you have a pain or sensitivity in the crowned teeth when you bite. Usually this means that the crown is too high on the tooth. He or she can easily fix this problem.
• Chipped crown: Sometime their might be a chip in case if the crown is made of all porcelain. A composite resin can be used to repair the chip with the crown remaining in your mouth if the chip is small. But if the chipping is extensive, the crown may need to be replaced.
• Loose crown: In some cases, from under the crown the cement washes out. This allow the crown to become loose and also it allows bacteria to leak in and cause decay to the tooth that remains. Contact your dentist's office if your crown feels loose.
• Crown falls off: Sometimes crowns may fall off. This may be due to a lack of cement or an improper fit. If this is the case, clean the crown and the front of your tooth. Using dental adhesive or temporary tooth cement that is sold in stores for this purpose you can even replace the crown temporarily. Contact your dentist's office immediately for an evaluation of your Dental Crown.Your dentist may be able to re-cement your crown in place; if not, a new crown will need to be made to replace it.
• Allergic reaction: An allergic reaction to the metals or porcelain used in crowns can occur, but this is extremely rare.
• Dark line next to the gum line on crowned tooth: If you have a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown a dark line next to the gum line of your crowned tooth is normal. This dark line is simply the metal of the crown showing through.

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