Dental Crowns – Clute, TX

What Are Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are tooth-shaped covers that can be placed over your existing teeth to cover them up. A dental crown can both increase the strength of the tooth and improve its appearance. These crowns are cemented in place over the existing teeth to completely cover the visible part of the tooth around the gumline. As such, dental crowns essentially function and look like real teeth.

Types of Dental Crowns

There are several different types of dental crowns out there — stainless steel, metal, porcelain-fused-to-metal, resin, and ceramic. When evaluating your teeth, the dentist will decide which type of dental crown is most suitable for you based on the following factors — the location and function of the tooth, the gum tissue position, your needs and preferences, the number of visible teeth while smiling, and the color of the tooth.

Based on these factors, the dentist may recommend the following types of dental crowns:

• Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is generally used to make temporary dental crowns because it’s cost-effective and doesn’t require multiple visits to the dentist. The crown is placed over the tooth or filling temporarily while the permanent dental crown is being prepared. In the case of children, the stainless-steel temporary crown may be placed over a decaying tooth to protect it. Over time, as the permanent tooth comes out, the stainless-steel dental crown comes out automatically.
• Metal: Metal dental crowns are usually permanent, and they’re extremely powerful and completely resistant to chipping and breaking. They are made of base metal alloys or alloys with a high gold or platinum content. The biggest issue here is the metallic color — which doesn’t look unnatural — which is why they’re usually placed in molars that are out of sight.
• Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal: Porcelain-fused-to-metal is the most natural-looking dental crown available, and its appearance can perfectly match that of your surrounding teeth. However, porcelain dental crowns are also more likely to chip or break, and the crown’s porcelain appearance often gives way to displaying the underlying metal roots, especially around the gumline.
• Resin: Resin dental crowns are inexpensive, but they’re extremely capable of chipping and breaking.
• Ceramic: Ceramic dental crowns look and feel like actual teeth, and they’re a suitable alternative for those allergic to metal. They can be used for both front and back teeth because they’re strong and look natural.

The Dental Crown Procedure

The following is a brief outline of the steps involved in a dental crown procedure:

• Preparing for a Dental Crown: Your dentist will first examine the tooth to determine if it’s suitable for a dental crown. Once that’s done, the dentist will prepare the tooth by removing the outer portions so that the crown can fit over it. The dentist may also have to build up the core of your teeth in order to support the crown.
• Taking Impressions: The dentist will either digitally scan or use a mold to take an impression of your teeth. They’ll also check the exact shade of your surrounding teeth so that the prepared dental crown doesn’t stick out from the rest.
• Temporary Dental Crown: While you wait for the permanent crown to be prepared — which can take around 2 weeks — you’ll have to put on a temporary dental crown. This will protect your tooth from damage.
• Placing the Permanent Dental Crown: Finally, once the dental crown has been prepared, the dentist will place it over the tooth and make final adjustments. Your crown will be cemented in place, and it will look completely real.

Dental Crown Aftercare

The following tips will help you take care of your dental crown:

• Brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once a day.
• Ask your doctor to recommend toothpaste.
• Don’t chew on hard objects and food like ice.
• Go for regular dental checkups.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns

Since your dental crown will be personalized with your specific dental needs in mind, you may not end up paying the same amount as another patient. We’ll always give you an estimate of what you can expect the cost of your dental crown to look like. On top of that, our team can help you find ways to make your restoration more affordable, whether that means taking advantage of your dental insurance benefits or applying for a CareCredit financing plan.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns

There are several variables involved with the dental crown process that can affect the overall price. When putting together the estimate for your treatment, our team will take the following factors into account:

• Number of Crowns Needed: Do you only need to get a single crown? Or will you need to fit multiple crowns into your budget in order to repair all of your damaged teeth?
• Preliminary Treatments: Are you getting a dental crown as part of another procedure that has its own cost, such as root canal treatment?
• Material Used: What sort of crown will you be paying for? Will it be made out of metal, or would you prefer a more lifelike option such as ceramic?

After creating an estimate, we’ll be more than happy to give you an explanation of how we came up with it. We want you to feel like you have all the information you need to determine whether a dental crown is the right choice for your smile and your bank account.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?

As long as your dental crown is being used for restorative purposes (as opposed to being placed simply to improve the appearance of the tooth), your dental insurance company will likely help pay for it. Coverage is usually around 50% since placing a dental crown is generally considered a major procedure. Bear in mind that many insurance companies have an annual maximum that limits how much they will pay for your dental care during a single year.

Of course, it’s worth noting that every dental insurance plan is different, so you should never make any assumptions about what your coverage looks like. Always take the time to review your benefits to make sure that you fully understand them. Our team will gladly review your plan with you if there’s anything that you’re unclear about.

Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable

Not everyone can rely on dental insurance to help them pay for dental crowns and other important services. Luckily, there are other ways to manage your out-of-pocket costs, and you can count on our team to help you come up with a plan that works for your wallet. For example, you can apply for CareCredit financing, which will allow you to pay for your dental crown in a number of monthly installments. Many CareCredit plans come with low interest, and some even have no interest.

Dental Crowns FAQs