LEARN ABOUT OUR SAFETY COMMITMENT

What is a Dental Crown

Damaged/decayed teeth can cause a wide variety of complications including difficulty eating and speaking, as well as aesthetic concerns. Restorative dental procedures, especially dental crowns, can help with this. This article explains what you need to know about dental crowns at Precision Dental.

The cost of dental crowns can be high, but the good news is that most dental insurance providers will cover a portion of treatment.

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed on a tooth to improve its appearance and functionality.

Types of Dental Crowns

Several different materials are used in dental crowns:

  • Ceramic or porcelain
  • Metals
  • Porcelain-fused-to-metal
  • Composite resin
Dental Crowns

The material used will depend upon your personal preferences and needs as well as the availability of the material. In some cases, the dentist may have a preference. There are some things to consider when choosing a material for your crown:

 

  • Ceramics have a more natural appearance and feel
  • Ceramics are often low-cost compared to certain metals
  • Zirconia is the strongest and preferred by patients for back teeth, especially those who have bruxism
  • High-performance plastics have recently been introduced that may be a promising alternative to ceramics

Common Reasons for Dental Crown Placement

There are several reasons a patient may consider a dental crown, including:

  • Restoring a broken/damaged tooth
  • Cover a tooth that requires extensive restoration
  • Protect a tooth following root canal treatment
  • Replace a missing tooth in conjunction with a dental implant

Crowns are often used when the affected tooth is:

  • Vulnerable to damage/infection
  • Causing pain during normal activities
  • Unable to function as normal
  • Impacting your bite
  • Detracting from your smile

Procedure

There are several steps involved in getting a dental crown which can take several weeks, including

Consultation

The first step is the consultation visit. During this visit, our team will determine if you are a candidate for a dental crown.

Tooth Extraction

The next step is to prepare the tooth for crown placement. This involves the removal of some of the enamel to create space for the crown. If there is an infection, root canal treatment may be required, and a build-up may be required if there is significant damage to the tooth.

Impressions

Once the tooth has been prepped, the dentist will take some impressions of the tooth, which will be used to fabricate the custom dental crown.

Temporary Crown Placement

Since fabrication of the permanent crown can usually take several weeks, a temporary crown may be placed on the tooth to protect it.

Permanent Crown Placement

When attaching the permanent crown, the dentist will remove the temporary one and clean the tooth thoroughly. Then, the permanent crown will be placed on the tooth to ensure proper fit. Minor adjustments may be necessary and can be made in the office. If the crown fits properly, it will be cemented in place.

Dental Crown Treatment

Advantages of Dental Crown

Dental crowns offer several advantages, including

  • Restores natural shape and function
  • Improves appearance
  • Protects underlying tooth from further damage/infection
  • Salvages the structure of the natural tooth

Maintenance and Care

There are no special maintenance and care considerations for dental implants. Simply brush and floss as usual. Some dental professionals recommend that a water flosser be used instead of regular dental floss to avoid potential damage to the dental crown.
However, you should avoid nuts and certain kinds of candies to avoid damaging the crown.

Schedule Your Dental Crown Procedure at Precision Dental Today

If you have a tooth that is severely damaged/decayed, schedule your dental crown consultation with the team at Precision Dental today. Our dentists have the training to be crown dentists and to properly put a crown on the tooth without causing additional complications.

We are located in New Port Richey, Florida. Our dentists work closely with our patients to create a smile they can be proud of and will help you save your natural teeth when possible. If not, they will work with you to find the best tooth replacement solution.

Dental Bridge

Fixed, not removable

Costs an average of around $2,500+ depending on the type of material chosen and the number of teeth required- another factor is the type of bridge

Requires 2 or more appointments over the course of a few weeks

Usually requires replacement after about 10 to 15 years, may last about 10 with proper care and maintenance

Dental Implants

Fixed, not removable

Costs $5,000+ for a single implant and up to $60,000+ for full-mouth restoration. Hybrid options cost an average of $12,000 per arch

Requires multiple appointments over several months to a year or more

Implant screw should last a lifetime but the restoration may need to be replaced after about 20 years

Dental Crown FAQs

If you have questions about dental crowns, the team at Precision Dental can help. Below are a few of the most commonly asked questions:

At first glance, the cheapest crown is composite resin. However, it is important to note that these do typically wear out quickly and must be replaced. A porcelain crown is designed to last longer, which makes it a much more cost-effective solution.

Yes, you can eat after getting a dental crown. However, it is recommended that you wait until the anesthesia has worn off and you avoid chewing hard, crunchy, or tough foods with the affected tooth for a few days after placement.

Yes, dental crowns are a permanent tooth restoration. However, they may begin to show signs of wear and tear after many years. When this happens, the best option is to replace it.

While there are options for replacing missing or extracted teeth, it’s best to salvage a natural tooth when possible. Therefore, a dental crown is much better than an extraction– unless the tooth is severely decayed/infected. In this case, the best option is to remove the tooth to remove the infection.

Request Appointment

Contact_form_footer

Request an Appointment

First & Last Name(Required)
What Family Plan are you interested in?