Tooth Cap

Dental Crown / Tooth Cap. A dental crown, also sometimes referred to as a “cap,” is a type of dental restoration that fits over the remains of a tooth to restore the appearance of the natural tooth or to protect it from further damage. If a large piece of tooth breaks off or the tooth has a lot of decay, the dentist may grind or file away part of it and cover it with a crown, or tooth-shaped cap. This protects the tooth and makes it look better. Permanent crowns can be ceramic, metal, porcelain fused to metal, or resin. If the entire top of the tooth is gone but the root is still intact, the dentist can do a procedure called a root canal.