Dental caps provide an effective means of restoring teeth that have undergone severe damage. If you have decayed, cracked or chipped teeth, caps may be the most ideal solution for you. They provide oral and cosmetic health benefits. The aim of most dentists is to preserve the natural tissue. Therefore, having caps is recommended before the damaged teeth can be extracted if that becomes necessary. Capped teeth usually last for many years even if the caps were used to restore extensively damaged teeth.
How they work
Dental caps are placed over damaged teeth. They cover the entire outer surface creating a completely new layer. They create a layer where enamel would naturally be. However, the damaged teeth still remain under the dental caps. Nevertheless, any dental work such as fillings is protected by the dental cap. Even the undamaged part of the teeth is protected from possible damage. After capping, damaged teeth can be used without discomfort or pain.
In some cases, teeth are damaged to a level where they can’t hold fillings effectively. In that case, filling may fall out of place after placement. There are cases where dentists may not try to place a filing since they know it will not stay in place. Nevertheless, in majority of such cases, caps provide a viable option for restoring such damaged teeth. When placed by professional dentists like Dr. Gabe Doria, dental caps will last longer and serve their purpose effectively.
Materials
Different materials can be used to make dental caps. The choice of a patient depends on several factors. These include durability, dentist’s recommendation, appearance and price. Each material has its own drawbacks and benefits.
Metal alloys
Metals like chromium, durable alloy or gold are the most common choices of dental caps’ materials. Dental alloy comprises of a mix of different metals like gold, zinc, silver, chromium and copper. However, dental alloys can include silicone in small amounts as well as other elements. Majority of the used metals are found in the body naturally. This implies that they are safe to humans. However, the major concern about metal caps is that they are usually either gold or silver in color. This makes teeth with mental caps obvious mismatches. Nevertheless, metal caps are a good option for restoring molars. They are also very durable.
Porcelain
Metal caps last longer than porcelain caps. However, the color of porcelain caps matches that of the surrounding teeth. For this reason, professional dentists like Gabe Doria recommend porcelain caps to patients that are concerned about the color of their caps. If you do not want metal caps because they are too obvious, Dr. Gabe can place porcelain caps over your teeth at his dental practice in Bayonne, NJ Hudson County. However, porcelain caps may lead to more wear on the surrounding teeth. This makes them less attractive as an alternative in some cases.
Porcelain and metal
Perhaps, this is the most reasonable option to most patients that are looking for the best results. Although this option can still cause wear on the surrounding teeth, caps made of metal in the inner layer and porcelain on the outer layer tend to last longer than metal caps.
Resin
Dental caps made of resin are not as durable as those made of metal. However, they have some benefits. Resin is cheaper than the other options. It suits the surrounding teeth’s color better than dental caps made of metal. However, its drawback is that it breaks and wears more than a combination of porcelain and metal or metal caps.
Just like most dental procedures, giving an exact price of dental caps is not easy. Usually, the cost varies depending on the procedures that will be involved such as X-rays, root canal as well as other works. However, the cost of a dental cap itself ranges from $1100 to $1500. If additional dental work is involved, having a dental cap can cost between $2000 and $4000. Your dental insurance may cover some or all of the cost. We can contact your insurance company to help you determine how much of the cost they will cover.
Is a dental cap the best option for me?
To determine if a dental cap is the best option for your dental case, consult a reputable dentist like Dr. Gabe Doria at his dental practice in Bayonne, NJ in Hudson County. Dr. Gabe is an experienced, reputable dentist with many years of experience of delicately replacing and restoring damaged teeth.
Contact us now to schedule your appointment or to get answers to questions that you may have about dental caps.
