Captek Crowns

Nowadays, base metal alloys are being increasingly used for the fabrication of copings for fixed dental prostheses. The use of gold in the fabrication of fixed denture copings has become a thing of the past now.

However, Captek has revolutionized dentistry offering gold composite copings that are not only much safer than the base metal alloys, but they are also quite durable and strong.

Fabrication of fixed partial dentures by using Captek copings requires essentially the same procedure that is carried out for ceramic and metal-ceramic restorations.

• First, reduction of the tooth that has to receive the prosthesis is performed to create space for the cementation of the gold-composite crowns or bridges.
• Next, an impression of the prepared tooth is sent to the laboratory where a gold coping is prepared.
• Finally, a layer of composite is built over the gold coping so as to provide optimal esthetics and to match the shade and color of the adjacent natural teeth.
• The completed restoration is then cemented over the prepared tooth.

• Biocompatibility: Compared to the base metal alloys, Captek copings are highly biocompatible thanks to their high noble metal content. Not only do they carry minimal risk of any kind of allergy, but they also do not cause any gingival irritation or infection.
• Protection of the oral structures:  The Captek copings possess an inherent "shock-absorbing" potential. As a result, they cause minimal damage to the underlying jaw bone and the surrounding soft tissues.
• Excellent esthetics: The Captek copings have a gold color, which perfectly matches the yellowish tinge of the dentine and reddish hue of the dental pulp. Therefore, Captek coatings provide the perfect base, over which highly esthetic porcelain or composite veneers, crowns, and bridges can be placed, that exactly match the shade and color of the adjacent teeth.
• Oxide free: Copings prepared from base-metal alloys have a drawback that oxides can leach out from them, not only resulting in gingival irritation but also causing discoloration of the porcelain or ceramic. The Captek gold copings prevent oxide formation, thereby ensuring that there is no discoloration of the overlying porcelain or composite.
• Excellent fit: Captek crowns are prepared directly on the tooth die, thereby providing a highly precise and accurate fit of the prosthesis. Captek copings can also be swedged, even before the layering of the porcelain or the composite is performed over it. This allows the laboratory technician to adjust the fit of the prosthesis as required.
• Thin copings: With Captek reinforced gold copings, very thin crowns can be prepared that allow maximizing the thickness of the ceramic layers over the prostheses, thereby enhancing their esthetics and your smile.
• Durability: Since an oxide layer does not form over the Captek gold copings, crowns and bridges prepared from them do not undergo corrosion, and therefore last much longer than the copings that are prepared from base metal alloys.
• Compatible with all types of margins: With Captek, you can provide any type of tooth-restorative margin that you think is best for the patient.

Although Captek gold copings can be used in all cases, they are ideal for the fabrication of dental prostheses in the following clinical scenarios:

• Subgingival margins: When subgingival margins are to be provided, gold copings prevent inflammation and allergy of the gums.
• Root-canal treated teeth: Teeth that have been endodontically treated become brittle and require maximal reinforcement. Captek gold copings are ideal in these cases as they have been reinforced with Indium and Palladium.
• Patients with high caries and periodontal infection risk: Gold copings prevent plaque and tartar accumulation. Therefore, they are ideal for tooth restoration for patients who have a high dental caries index.
• Cardiac patients: For cardiac patients, it is extremely important to provide restorations that prevent plaque or tartar accumulation as the bacteria can travel into the cardiac valves and cause endocarditis. Since Captek prevents plaque and calculus accumulation, it is best for restoring the teeth of cardiac patients.
• Restorations over implants: Captek gold copings provide excellent results when they are used to prepare crowns or bridges, which are placed over dental implants.

Owing to their numerous favorable properties, Captek gold crowns are gaining widespread popularity throughout the world. The day is not far when younger dentists and laboratory technicians would prefer using gold copings over those fabricated from base metal alloys.

In the US price usually starts around $1,000 and can easily go significantly higher. However, the $1,000 - $1,300 range is probably the most common.

Captek is high-quality porcelain fused to gold crown, therefore the price of this crown is usually a bit higher than other porcelain fused to gold crowns