Over the years, our teeth may wear down and become damaged or decayed. Dentists can treat tooth enamel that has chipped, cracked or decayed with a variety of dental treatment options, including bonding, veneers and crowns. Typically, a dentist may recommend a dental crown when there is extensive structural damage to the surface of the tooth but the tooth’s root remains intact. A dental crown, also known as a tooth crown or tooth cap, is a cover that replaces the damaged section of the tooth. A dental crown can effectively restore a severely damaged tooth, increasing the damaged tooth’s strength and durability. Dental crowns are generally considered a restorative dental procedure but they are sometimes used for cosmetic or aesthetic purposes. For example, some people choose to get dental crowns to “fix” discolored or misshapen teeth. Dentists usually recommend crowns when other cosmetic dental procedures wouldn’t be effective. For example, dental crowns are much stronger and more durable than veneers and bonding.
Dentists typically recommend a tooth crown or dental crown procedure …
• When a tooth cracks or fractures completely.
• When a tooth’s structure is significantly weakened by decay.
• When a dental bridge is needed to replace missing teeth, dental crowns are used as “anchors” for support on either side of the bridge.
• When a patient gets a root canal, the tooth tends to weaken and often needs to be covered by a dental crown.
• When a tooth has more filling than tooth structure left, the tooth becomes fragile and may need a dental crown.
• When a tooth is discolored or misshapen and alternative treatments are ruled out.
If there is extensive tooth decay and a chance of infection, many dentists will recommend performing a root canal (also known as endodontic treatment) before proceeding with the dental crown procedure. A root canal is not always necessary before dental crown work, and is usually evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Dentists usually discuss the available dental crown options with the patient before beginning the procedure. The options include gold dental crowns, porcelain dental crowns and porcelain fused-to-metal dental crowns. The main factors in deciding what type of tooth crown to use are cost, aesthetics and the strength of the dental crown needed.
Dental crown treatment options include porcelain dental crowns, gold dental crowns and porcelain fused-to-metal dental crowns. Click here for more information on dental crown treatment options.
Once the patient and dentist decide, the dentist begins the dental crown procedure. First, local anesthesia is used to numb the area and the damaged tooth is reduce or “trimmed” down using a dental drill. The dentist then takes an impression of the trimmed tooth and sends it to a dental laboratory to have them create a customized dental crown. In the meantime, a temporary tooth crown or a “flipper” is used as a placeholder. Once the dental laboratory creates the customized tooth crown, the patient returns to the dentist’s office for a second appointment. Then, the dentist removes the temporary crown, fits the customized dental crown to the tooth and cements it into place.
The price of a dental crown procedure can vary by region, dentist, type of crown and other factors. To give an estimated range, the average cost of a dental crown can range from $600 to $3,100 per tooth. Porcelain crowns are typically more expensive because they are more aesthetically pleasing, and they require more skill and time from the dental laboratory to create them. In addition, the cost of dental crown procedures also depends on the number of times a patient visits the dentist’s office for treatment.
These dental crown prices can be very intimidating to dental patients, even patients with dental insurance. The price of a dental crown procedure can easily surpass a dental insurance policy’s annual maximum. In addition, some dental insurance policies won’t cover dental crowns at all and others have extensive waiting periods of 6 to 18 months. Luckily, there is an affordable alternative to dental insurance for those concerned with the cost of their dental crown procedure – discount dental plans.
Discount dental plans can save you money on your dental care needs, including dental crowns with select plans. Simply enter your ZIP code in the “Step 1” search tool below to find a money-saving discount dental plan and participating dental provider near you. Improve your dental health and save money in the process by joining a discount dental plan today.
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