How to Rejuvenate Your Smile Using Dental Caps
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How to Rejuvenate Your Smile Using Dental Caps

Your teeth are the foundation of a beautiful smile. But, not everyone has a perfect set of pearly whites. Your teeth can withstand a limited amount of stress before the damage starts to show. At times, accidents occur, and you get cracked or chipped teeth.

In all these scenarios, a host of procedures can be done to repair or replace a tooth. One of the options that our Oshawa dentist can use is dental caps. You can get dental caps for front teeth or molar caps, depending on your situation.

Dental Caps

If you are wondering whether there is a difference between dental caps and crowns, there is none. The terms can be used interchangeably. The term “caps” tends to capture the essence of the procedure better since a cap covers the tooth.

It is a prosthetic object that resembles your natural tooth, which is cemented on the affected tooth. It is firmly put in place, and only our Oshawa dentist can remove it.

A crown is typically made from a variety of materials, such as porcelain or metal. Before you get a crown you have to consider:

  • Strength
  • Durability
  • Cost

Aesthetics are also a key factor, especially for the front teeth.

Who Needs a Dental Cap?

You might be a suitable candidate for dental crowns in the following situations:
To restore a worn out or a broken tooth.

  • To protect a weak tooth from breaking, decay, or hold parts of a cracked tooth together.
  • To be used as an anchor for a dental bridge.
  • To cap a dental implant.
  • To cover severely discolored teeth.
  • To replace a large implant.
  • For beauty purposes
  • To align your bite

In children, dental crowns can be used under the following circumstances:

  • To save a tooth that is destroyed by decay and fillings cannot be used.
  • To prevent your child’s teeth from decay, especially if your child has a difficult time maintaining proper oral hygiene.
  • Reduce the frequency of using general anesthesia in special cases where the child is unable to cooperate with the requirements of excellent dental care.

Types of Dental Crowns

Other than cost, durability, and strength, the kind of material used is critical in the choosing process. In fact, the material used determines the cost, durability, and strength. The main types of dental crowns are as follows:

All-Porcelain Crowns

These are made of ceramic or porcelain and are made to resemble your teeth, from the color to texture. If you need a dental crown for a front tooth, this is the one best suited for the job because of its aesthetic quality.

Some pros are:

  • They provide the most natural look and match your surrounding teeth.
  • For front teeth restorations, they are the best options.
  • They are biocompatible, which means they are toxic-free since no metal is used.
    Cons are:
  • They aren’t that strong as compared to metal crowns.
  • If you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding), they aren’t the best choice.

Porcelain Fused to Metal

This cap is more durable than the all-porcelain crown because it is fused to a metal structure.

Pros are:

  • They are both aesthetically pleasing and durable.
  • They are bit cheaper than the all-porcelain crowns

Cons are:

  • A grey line can form at the gum line because of the metal used in the crowns.
  • If you clench your teeth a lot, these crowns can easily wear down.

Gold Crowns

These crowns are usually an alloy of copper, gold, and other metals such as chromium or nickel. They are an excellent choice when it comes to back teeth restorations.

Pros are:

  • They are highly resistant and strong.
  • They can last long if you take good care of them.
  • Less of your enamel will be removed.
  • Because of their strength, they are ideal for back teeth.
  • Cons are:
  • Poor aesthetics because they do not look like your teeth
  • Some people might have allergies because of the metals used

Zirconia Crowns

These crowns are relatively new in the market, and they are made out of Zirconium. These crowns have good aesthetics as the porcelain crowns and strength as the metal crowns. They are a more popular choice today.

Pro are:

  • They are aesthetically sound.
  • They are strong and durable.
  • They can be made in the office on the same day, hence less time-consuming.
  • They are biocompatible as porcelain crowns.

Cons:

  • Because of their strength, they can cause the teeth that they bite against to wear down faster.
  • It can be difficult to adjust solid Zirconia.

How Long Do They Last?

Your crowns’ lifespan depends on your habits and the “wear and tear” they have been exposed to. On average, though, they will last approximately 15 years.

If you need a front tooth cap or molar caps, contact our dentist at Harmony Dental Care to book an appointment.

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