In brief: A dental cap and a dental crown are the same thing: a full cover that sits over a damaged or weakened tooth, or on an implant. Monolithic zirconia suits back teeth and heavy bites, E.max (lithium disilicate) gives the most natural look on front teeth, and porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) and full metal crowns still have specific uses. A bridge uses crowns on neighbouring teeth or implants to replace a missing tooth.
What a Dental Cap (Crown) Is
"Cap" is the everyday word; dentists say crown. It covers the whole visible part of the tooth from the gum line up and restores its shape, size, strength and colour. The tooth is reshaped so the crown has room, and the crown is then cemented or bonded over it.
A crown is a bigger step than a filling because more tooth is reduced. It should be recommended for a clear reason, and if a filling or a more conservative onlay would do the job, that is usually the better option.
Teeth Cap Treatment: What to Expect
Teeth cap treatment usually takes two visits. Under local anaesthetic, the dentist removes any decay, shapes the tooth, takes a digital scan and fits a temporary cap. The final zirconia, E.max or PFM cap is made in our in-house lab and checked for fit, bite and shade before it is cemented in place.
Because the lab is on site, a simple back-tooth cap can sometimes be finished within one or two days, which helps visitors on a short trip. Your dentist confirms the timing at the consultation.
When a Crown Is Needed
- Large decay or a broken tooth: too little tooth is left for a filling to hold.
- After root canal treatment on a back tooth: these teeth are more brittle and prone to splitting, so cusp coverage with a crown or onlay is usually advised. Front teeth with enough tooth left can sometimes be managed with a filling.
- A cracked tooth: a crown holds the cusps together so the crack is less likely to spread.
- Heavy wear: crowns rebuild height and shape on worn teeth, often as part of a bite plan.
- Bridges and implants: crowns anchor a bridge, and every implant needs a crown on top.
- Appearance: badly discoloured or misshapen teeth that veneers cannot handle.
Where the walls are thin but some healthy tooth remains, an onlay may be enough. See fillings vs cuspal restorations for how that choice is made.
Crown Materials Compared
Zirconia
Zirconia (zirconium dioxide) is the strongest tooth-coloured crown material and contains no metal. Monolithic zirconia, milled as one solid piece, resists chipping and is the usual choice for molars, people who grind and back-tooth implant crowns. Multilayer zirconia blends shade and translucency from neck to edge and looks natural on premolars and many front teeth. Layered zirconia has porcelain on top for appearance, but that layer can chip under heavy bites. Our zirconia crowns guide covers the types in detail.
E.max (lithium disilicate)
E.max is a glass ceramic that lets light through much like enamel, so it gives the most lifelike result on upper front teeth. It is weaker than zirconia but strong enough for front crowns and most premolars in a normal bite. It is bonded to the tooth and can be made quite thin, which helps save tooth structure. For grinders and heavy back-tooth loads, zirconia is usually safer.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM)
PFM crowns have a metal inner shell with porcelain baked on. They were the standard for decades and are strong. Their drawbacks: the metal blocks light so they look more opaque, the porcelain can chip, and a dark line can show at the gum if it recedes. They can also be a problem for people with metal allergies. PFM is now chosen mainly for non-visible teeth when cost is the main concern.
Full metal
Gold or other metal alloy crowns have no ceramic, so they do not chip and need little tooth reduction. They are occasionally used on back molars that do not show, in very heavy bites, where appearance is not a concern.
Dental Bridges: Replacing a Missing Tooth
A bridge fills a gap with a false tooth (a pontic) held by its neighbours. The main types are:
- Traditional fixed bridge: crowns on the teeth either side hold the false tooth. It is fixed and reliable, but the supporting teeth must be reduced for crowns, which cannot be undone.
- Implant-supported bridge: implants carry the bridge instead of natural teeth, so healthy neighbours are left untouched. It is often preferred when several teeth are missing in a row.
- Maryland (resin-bonded) bridge: a false tooth with thin wings bonded to the back of the neighbouring teeth. It needs little or no drilling but suits front teeth with light bite forces and can come unstuck. See our Maryland bridge guide.
If the neighbouring teeth are healthy and unfilled, a single dental implant is usually the more conservative choice because it does not cut those teeth down. If they already have large fillings or crowns, a bridge becomes more reasonable. A CBCT scan shows whether there is enough bone for an implant. Our guide to types of dental bridges goes into more detail.
How a Crown Is Made at Dazzle
- Assessment: the tooth is examined and X-rayed. Decay is removed and any root canal treatment completed first.
- Preparation: under local anaesthetic, the tooth is shaped. How much is removed depends on the material: monolithic zirconia and E.max can usually be thinner than PFM.
- Scan and shade: a TRIOS 5 intraoral scanner records the tooth and bite instead of putty impressions. Shade is checked in natural light, and photos help for front teeth.
- Temporary crown: this protects the tooth and reduces sensitivity while the final crown is made.
- Design and milling: the crown is designed on computer and milled on an Amann Girrbach Ceramill unit in our in-house lab, Dream Dental Studio, then finished and glazed or polished.
- Try-in and fitting: fit, contacts, bite and shade are checked before cementing. Small changes are made at this stage.
Because the lab is on site, crowns do not wait on an outside laboratory, and adjustments or remakes are quicker. This helps patients visiting Mumbai on a short trip; how many days your case needs is confirmed at the consultation.
Cost of Crowns
Zirconia crowns at Dazzle start from ₹15,000. The final fee depends on the material and type of crown, whether it sits on a natural tooth or an implant, the number of units in a bridge, and any treatment needed first, such as a root canal, core build-up or gum work. You receive an itemised quote after the consultation and scan. Current prices are on our fees page.
FAQs
How long does a crown last?
Many crowns last a decade or longer with good care. The most common reasons for replacement are new decay at the edge of the crown and the crown coming loose, more often than the crown itself breaking. Cleaning at the gum line, regular check-ups and a nightguard if you grind make the biggest difference.
Will the crown match my other teeth?
Shade is chosen with the scanner, shade guides and natural light, and checked again at try-in. Front crowns get the most attention to translucency and surface texture.
Does getting a crown hurt?
The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic, so you feel pressure and vibration. Some sensitivity to cold for a few days to a few weeks afterwards is common and usually settles; if it gets worse, the tooth should be rechecked.
Want to know which crown suits your tooth? Book a Consult at our Bandra West or Kemps Corner clinic.
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