Largest Dental Caps

Largest Dental Caps
	WHO: Spike WHAT: 50 cm (19 in) long WHERE: Calgary Zoo, Alberta, Canada WHEN: July 4, 2002
The world's largest dental caps measure 50 cm (19 in) long, 13 cm (5 in) in diameter and weigh 13 kg (28 lb) each. They were fixed onto a pair of cracked tusks belonging to Spike, a resident Asian elephant, at the Calgary Zoo, Alberta, Canada during a 3 hour 30 minute operation on July 4, 2002. The stainless steel caps were designed and manufactured by the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology with metal donated by Corus Steel and adhesive by 3M (all Canada).

What are dental caps?

Dental caps are coverings applied over teeth with large amounts of surface damage or decay, and are often used in conjunction with root canal procedures. They may be made of metal, porcelain, or resin composites.Anyone with structural defects in their teeth, including decay, chipping, and cracking, can benefit from dental caps. Additionally, dental caps can prevent future cracks and chips in areas worn down by a bite problem or excessive tooth grinding.In addition to improving the overall appearance of teeth, dental caps can cover cracked and chipped areas which might otherwise be prone to decay and eventual loss. Because they cover the entire tooth, dental caps also improve the stability and structural integrity of the tooth

Your dentist will make an impression, or mold, of the area to be capped and send it to the laboratory where the dental caps will be manufactured to your tooth’s precise shape. Then the tooth may be filled or otherwise restored so it is ready to receive the cap. Usually, a temporary cap will be put in palce until the permanent cap is ready. In the second visit, dental caps are affixed with cement.Dental caps usually involve little to no discomfort, but any discomfort which is felt is managed by over-the-counter painkillers.

Porcelain caps and new resin composite materials make caps virtually indistinguishable from surrounding teeth, vastly improving the appearance of your mouth. By closely examining tooth surface and chewing habits, your dentist can apply dental caps to problem areas before cracks, chips, or decay set in.