Copings

Copings are components that cap or cover an underlying structure, and the term is used in several fields. The two most common uses are architectural coping on walls and parapets, and dental copings, which form part of a crown or an implant-supported restoration.

In architecture and masonry, a coping is the protective cap placed on top of a wall or parapet. It shields the masonry from weather, helps direct water away from the wall, and provides a finished edge. Copings may be cut from stone, concrete, brick, metal, or precast materials and are designed to accommodate movement, climate, and drainage while maintaining an aesthetically appropriate profile.

In dentistry, a coping is the internal substructure of a crown or implant-supported crown. Materials include metal alloys, metal-ceramic frameworks, and all-ceramic options such as zirconia. Copings are fabricated from impressions or digital scans and are cemented or bonded to the prepared tooth or to the implant abutment, with an outer porcelain or ceramic layer built over them to achieve esthetics and translucency.

Applications and design considerations differ by field. In restorative dentistry, the coping supports the final crown and distributes occlusal forces; in implant dentistry, the coping (abutment) connects the implant to the crown. In masonry, coping profiles, drainage, and weather resistance are central concerns to ensure durability and longevity.

See also: coping stone, dental crown, dental abutment.