What is a crown, a bridge and a cap?!


Question: I have had my front upper tooth knocked out ( accidental bump with my son) ... I have had a plate fitted, and been told to wait six months until the bone heels before I can have a replacement. Never bothered about dental terminology before, so I had better learn now .... what are the differences?


Answers: I have had my front upper tooth knocked out ( accidental bump with my son) ... I have had a plate fitted, and been told to wait six months until the bone heels before I can have a replacement. Never bothered about dental terminology before, so I had better learn now .... what are the differences?

So far you have been given misinformation. A "cap" is the lay term for a crown. They are the same thing. The part of the tooth that is above the gum is called the crown and the root is below the gum. A cap or crown must have a root present and a post or crown of the tooth that has been prepared in a peg-like shape for the lab made dental crown to fit on. It covers the entire peg-shaped crown of the tooth. It is usually made of gold fused to porcelain or other metal.

A bridge can be made when you have a missing tooth like you do. It is made by putting crowns on the two teeth beside the space and a false tooth or "pontic" for the space. All three teeth are cemented in as one unit.

This is usually done if there were defects or fillings already on the teeth on either side and they needed crowns. Otherwise, if the teeth are perfectly sound, it is usually recommended today to have an implant to replace a single missing tooth, especially in the front. I have provided links to check for all of these terms with an animation of preparing a crown.

A crown is a porcelain tooth.
A bridge is a placement of metal infused crown porcelain that helps separate teeth quadrants in it's natural state.
A cap is a temporary crown, waiting in place for a porcelain crown or tooth.

A crown is worn by a king or Queen A cap is worn by a schoolboy and A Bridge is for crossing a river hope this helps haha.





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