A crown or a cap is basically a device used for a certain type of dental restoration technique. It fully covers the portion of the tooth or the dental implant which lies right above the gum line. Once it is placed properly, it also acts an outer surface to the tooth. For instance, the dental filling just repairs a certain portion of the tooth. However, the dental crowns and caps effortlessly fit into the teeth.

Reasons for placing dental crowns and caps
There are plenty of reasons for requiring dental crowns and caps, some of them are as follows:

• Protecting a tooth that has become weaker and crooked
• Restoring damaged teeth or a broken tooth
• Supporting a tooth that requires filling because the tooth does not have enough strength.
• For holding a bridge in the correct place
• Improving the aesthetics of the teeth.

Terms used for crowns
Often people get really confused due to the different terms associated with this type of filling. The term crowns and caps are used to refer to the same type of filling. It is also referred to as a tooth cap or a dental cap. Most of these terms are interchangeable and can be used to describe any type of dental crown. All of these terms collectively describe what it really does which is capping or crowning of the tooth.

You may have also heard of a tooth jacket which is used to describe crowns and caps. One may also use the term “porcelain jacket” to describe dental crowns that are fully ceramic in nature. However, the term used by your dentist may be quite different. Medical journals and professionals do not use the term “caps.” They are mainly used by patients or for the publicity of the services offered. The term crown is used quite often by the dentists.

Placement of dental crowns and caps
Typically, it takes roughly two sessions for getting dental crowns and caps. In the first visit, the dentist will take an X-ray. The teeth need to be prepared and examined to find whether a cap or a crown is required. The X-ray is taken not only of the tooth but also of the root. This is to ensure that there is no further damage caused to the teeth. In the first visit, the patient may also numb down the area so that the tooth is filed and a temporary crown is placed where there is a need. These crowns are usually made with acrylic material or stainless steel and held in place with permanent cement.

It is during the second visit, that the doctor will extract the temporary tooth to see whether it fits properly or not. After this, the tooth will be checked and the permanent cap will be placed on it. Once the dentist verifies the best type of dental crowns and caps, they will numb down the area and drill the crown with cement to keep it in place.