Dental crowns are basically caps for a tooth that has sustained damage. They can be made from different types of materials including porcelain or metal. You can have a crown placed on a molar that rarely shows except when you open your mouth widely or even on your front teeth using crowns specifically designed to match or other teeth.
Many important factors must be considered when choosing crowns including:
- Durability.
- Strength.
- Cost.
Your priority will also be a natural appearance that does not detract from your smile. You can discuss various options with the Pearland dentist to help you figure out what best suits your requirements.
Varieties of Dental Crowns
Various types of materials can be used for making crowns including:
- Porcelain.
- Ceramic.
- Metal.
- Zirconia.
- Composite resin.
- A combination of different materials.
You can choose to have a porcelain crown fused to metal instead of an all-porcelain crown. When choosing the material for your crown your dentist will consider the following:
- The location of your tooth.
- How much of your tooth will be visible when you smile.
- The position of the gum tissue.
- The function of the tooth needing the crown.
- The color of the surrounding teeth.
- The leftover portion of the natural tooth.
You can discuss with your dentist about any personal preferences you may have.
Temporary Crowns
These are precisely what they sound like and will remain in your mouth only for a short period. The crowns will be placed over your tooth with an adhesive that can be removed easily and therefore it doesn’t have the strength of a permanent crown. Temporary crowns are provided when you are waiting for a permanent crown to be made. During your second appointment, the permanent crown will be placed over the tooth.
One Day Crown
Advances in dentistry have ensured you can get crowns in a single appointment. Some dental offices like dental crowns in Pearland can offer same-day crown installation by using different methods with computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM).
Why Do You Need a Crown?
Crowns may be needed if you have a large cavity that is too big for a filling. You may also need a crown in the following situations:
- You have severely worn teeth.
- Your teeth have cracked or weakened.
- You have undergone a root canal treatment that has rendered your tooth fragile and needs to be protected.
You may be a candidate for crowns if you are missing teeth and the dentist needs to put in dental bridges in Pearland or a tooth implant.
The Costs of Dental Crowns
The prices of dental crowns can range between $ 800-$ 1500 or more depending on the material you have chosen for the crown and the size of the tooth. If you decide to have gold crowns they may cost you about $ 2500. All-metal crowns made from metal alloys are cheaper than gold or porcelain crowns. The prices may increase if the dentist has to perform extensive preparation work before placing the crown. If you need a root canal or a dental implant the prices will be driven up even higher. You may receive some assistance from your dental insurance provider that may cover certain types of crowns. Therefore you must discuss with your insurance company to obtain coverage details. Help to determine the dental costs will be available from your dentist when you discuss with him or her about the types of dental crowns available.
The Procedure for Placing Dental Crowns
If you have chosen traditional crowns two visits to the dentists’ office will be necessary.
During the first visit, the dentist will examine your tooth and prepare it for the crown. He or she may also take x-rays of the tooth and make a mold of your mouth. Your dentist will file down the tooth to remove part of the outer layer before taking an impression of your trimmed tooth and surrounding teeth. A temporary crown will be placed over your tooth to protect it as the impression is sent to a dental laboratory to make the crown. This step will take several weeks to complete.
The permanent crown will be placed on your tooth during the second visit.
If you have chosen the same-day procedure the dentist will take digital pictures of your mouth and using the digital scan, create the crown in the dental office. The waiting time for the crown is a couple of hours. Temporary crowns are not required during the same-day procedure. However, you must choose a dentist that has the technology such as Pearly Whites of Pearland that have invested in the technology to provide you both options if needed. However, if you do not have dental insurance it is suggested that you discuss the estimated cost of same-day crowns before you agree to have them.
Now that you have the information needed for getting dental crowns you can head to pearly whites of Pearland for a consultation and the crowns to give your teeth the natural appearance they deserve.
