What are Dental Crowns?
A crown is a cover, or “cap”, that the dentist places over a tooth to restore its appearance and strength during a dental crown procedure.
The cap can be made of porcelain, composite or metal. A tooth that has been fixed with a crown looks and works very much like a natural tooth.
When do I Need a Dental Crown Procedure?
Food leftovers that are not removed on your teeth contribute to plaque and decay that erode the enamel. If the tooth decay is ignored too long and fillings aren’t done early, the cavities continue to grow and can’t be filled. This is when dental crowns are needed.
Dental crowns are beneficial for a variety of reasons including:
- Protecting a weak tooth from breaking or holding together parts of a cracked tooth
- Restoring a broken tooth that is worn down
- Covering and supporting a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t a lot of tooth left
- Holding a dental bridge in place
- Covering very discoloured teeth or a dental implant
- Saving a tooth that has been so damaged by decay that is can’t support a filling
- Protecting the tooth of a child at high risk for tooth decay
In some cases, a dental crown procedure could even help you avoid a root canal.
If there is enough good tooth left to shape a peg, the dental crowns can successfully rest on top when it is fitted. Given all of these benefits, the dental crowns cost is well worth the investment to protect and enhance your teeth.
Dental Crowns Cost
There are a few things that can affect the dental crowns cost including the material used to make the crown, size and condition of your teeth. The cost varies based on these factors but a single crown can range between $900 to $1,200.
There could be additional dental crowns cost if core buildup is needed during a dental crown procedure. You can check with your insurance company to see if they cover part of the cost for your crowns.
By fixing your teeth early, dental crowns cost now could save you more money and time in the future by preventing bigger and more complicated problems.
What Happens During a Dental Crown Procedure?
Placing dental crowns can usually be done within two visits if no additional care is needed for your teeth. Here is what our dentist generally does during a dental crown procedure:
Shave the tooth
Our experienced dentist will shave and remove just the right amount of tooth to make a strong crown that will protect it.
Building up the tooth
Once the edges have been shaven and decay has been removed, the remaining tooth is either too small or no longer tall enough to be used for the crown. In this case, our dentist will build up the damaged tooth will filling material so the so the crown can fit well over the tooth.
Make the impression
After the shaved tooth is cleaned and dried, the surrounding gum tissue will be gently pushed back to expose more tooth. You will then bite down for a few minutes in liquid materials to make an impression of the tooth and jawline.
Place the temporary crown
The dentist will take a shell and shape it to your tooth. It will be placed with a temporary cement that can easily be removed. It can stand normal wear and tear until the permanent ones arrive.
Permanent fitting
Our dentist will call you when the crown has been made from the dental lab. The dentist will remove the temporary crown and clean the excess cement from the remaining tooth. After the permanent crown is placed, a few tests will be done to make sure than the bite pattern is identical.
Recovery
After your dental crowns are placed, it’s best to avoid sticky or hard foods for a day or two to allow the crown enough time to form a solid bond. Some additional work may be needed depending on the condition of the teeth which impacts the dental crowns cost.
Contact Us
Contact us if you would like to get a dental crowns cost estimate or dental crown procedure.