Captek

Captek™ (capillary technology) is an advanced metallurgic system for producing high-gold metal substructures for porcelain-fused-to-gold single and multiple-unit crown and bridgework.

Contemporary PFM utilizing Captek! It is important for every dentist to have the ability to provide a restoration that is traditionally cemented with the necessary strength to handle both single and multiple unit bridgework cases. Historically, porcelain-fused-to-metal ceramic restorations (PFM's) have been the "workhorse" of fixed restorative dentistry. While providing a very strong restoration, traditional PFM's require a great deal of tooth preparation. In fact, standard facial reduction as great as 1.8 mm is currently being taught in many of the teaching centers throughout the United States.

While this amount of reduction will certainly provide the ceramist adequate room for metal, an opaque layer (to block out the gray metal) and layered body porcelains, it also has the potential to leave the teeth in a weakened state. Contemporary metal-ceramic systems like the Captek System have the advantage of providing the additional strength required without the gross reduction. Using Captek, facial reduction of 1.0-1.2 mm is more than enough room to provide a strong, traditionally cemented, aesthetic restoration.

Captek is a metal-ceramic restoration that has many advantages over traditional porcelain-fused-to-metal. The warmth of the underlying gold-colored, precious metal coping enhances the vitality of bake-on porcelains and yields pleasing aesthetic results even with conservative tooth reduction. The coping is not a traditional cast restoration but rather a composite metal. Platinum and Palladium provide a base capillary network that is encapsulated by the 97% yellow gold to form a high-strength metal composite with a deep yellow gold appearance. Thus, different than other cost gold copings, Captek has both the warm gold understructure with the strength of a traditional high gold PFM. This unique combination of beauty, traditional strength and plaque resistance has allowed Captek to be given our Select Choice for Contemporary PFM Restorations.

Indications and Material Benefits

• Anterior and posterior single crowns, multiple unit bridgework up to 5 units
• To be used when maximum strength is required
  
• To be used when maximum aesthetics are needed, but a traditionally cemented restoration is most predictable. This could be due to the inability to isolate properly, or due to the presence of sclerotic dentin
• To be used for anterior bridgework when additional strength is required or multiple unit bridgework is necessary (up to 5 units)
• Does a great job of blocking out dark posts or dark tooth structure
• Can be used with or without a porcelain margin indicated for patients with perio concerns

Contraindications

Not to be used with bridgework greater than 5 units or in with bridgework requiring more than 2 pontics in a high stress area.

Cementation

Captek can be conventionally cemented with your choice of cement.

Insurance Codes

Single Crown

D2750 Single Crown - Porcelain-fused-to-high-noble-metal

Bridgework

D6750 Crown - Porcelain-fused-to-high-noble-metal
D6240 Pontic - Porcelain fused to high noble metal

Prep Design

Any margin design with .8 -1.0 mm reduction; 1.5 mm occlusal reduction necessary; 1.5 mm incisal reduction 1.0 -1.5 mm axial wall reduction