Are dental caps different from crowns? i'm going in for my first crown in a few weeks, but have also read about dental caps, and am a little confused. are caps and crowns the same thing?

Yes, : Yes, they are the same thing. It is a restoration that covers the entire tooth to protect it from further damage when the tooth is so broken down that a filling will not do.

The : The proper term is crown, but often the slang term of cap is used. A crown is a full coverage restoration for a single tooth that has sustained much natural tooth destruction . Another slang is bridge but the proper term is fixed partial denture ( fpd ) . An fpd is a multiple unit replacement for a/some missing teeth

Most : Most dental proceedures and ailments have a scientific name as well as a more commonly used name more familiar to the patient (i.e. Periodontal disease vs. Pyorrhea, denture vs. Plate, and yes crown vs. Cap). They are in effect the same thing!

It : It is understandable that different terminology causes confusion. However these two terms do mean the same thing, a crown goes on the head just as a capital goes on top of a pillar. When the repair work on a tooth is so extensive that the material needs to be extended all around the tooth like a thimble that warrants it being called a crown. These days we try to conceal the presence of such a repair by taking the margin all the way down to the gum line so that you can not detect the finish line with the eye. In former times when metal, usually gold , was used a more conservative use of the metal had dentists stopping the extension of the crown to no further that was considered necessary for strength. In dentistry crowns and caps are the same thing! dr. Neil mcleod dentistry that lasts - quality that counts.

Yes: Same thing. No need to be confused. When we think about it, a crown often just goes around the head, whereas a cap fits over the top as well. So, contrary to what we were taught as dentists, the cap terminology might well be considered more accurate. I have been practicing 32 years and only now , from your question, did i think of it this way. Thanks. Good luck with your first crown / cap !

The same: "caps" are often the terms used for crowns on front teeth, "crowns" for back teeth. In effect, they are the same--they cover and surround remaining tooth structure after the tooth has been prepared. Thye become necessary when there is not enough healthy tooth structure to enclose a filling.