Gold Caps
Advantage: The preparation of your tooth for a gold
cap is the simplest and least complicated preparation. There is minimal tooth structure
removal with as much as possible of the healthy tooth structure remaining untouched. As
porcelain is hard by comparison, it may cause wear on opposing teeth over the years where
gold is not as likely to do this. Gold is also easier to place to the area where the tooth
and cap meet for a better fit. Gold is also a healthier environment for the gum tissue.
Disadvantage: The biggest disadvantage to gold caps
is cosmetic, unless it is being used in the back of your mouth.
Porcelain Caps
Advantage: Porcelain caps or the new reinforced
resin types are considered to be the most aesthetically pleasing, as it is so easily
matched in color to your surrounding teeth.
Disadvantage: The thickness of the porcelain
required for pleasing aesthetics also requires that more tooth structure is removed. Also,
it is more difficult for your cosmetic dentist to get an ideal fit where your gum meets
the cap. Gingival inflammation is typically more common with porcelain caps than gold
caps.
Porcelain Fused-to-Metal Caps
Advantage: Porcelain fused-to-metal caps have a
very natural and pleasing appearance.
Disadvantage: They have a metal substructure and
require an opaque below the porcelain, which can make the translucency of natural teeth
difficult to replicate. Occasionally a darker line will be visible at the edge of the cap,
by your gum as your gum recedes with age.
Next: Before & After
Photos
- Introduction to dental caps section
- Dental caps - an overview
- Who is a candidate for having teeth capped?
- Tooth caps - Procedure description
- Varieties of tooth caps
- How much do dental caps cost?
- Pros and cons of tooth caps
- Dental caps - Before and after photos
- Personal stories from people who have had tooth caps
- Picking a color for tooth caps
- Discuss caps with others
