Dental Crowns – Garland, TX
Renew Your Tooth After Injury or Decay
Has your tooth suffered a great deal of damage or decay? If your smile needs a little help looking its best while chewing properly, a dental crown may be the right treatment for you. These customized caps are designed to be worn over troubled teeth to protect them from further injury while restoring their shape, size, and appearance. Here’s how Dr. Peterson at North Garland Family Dental can help you meet life with your best smile.
Why Choose North Garland Family Dental for Dental Crowns?
- Friendly and Experienced Dentist
- Durable Materials Create Beautiful Restorations
- Dental Insurance Usually Covers Crowns at 50-80 Percent
What Is a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are restorations that are designed to cover the visible area of a damaged tooth to protect it from further injury and infection while recreating its original appearance and function. Almost anyone can receive a dental crown as long as their tooth can be made strong enough to support one. They are typically used when a tooth is too damaged to be repaired by a filling, to anchor dental bridges in place, to cover dental implants, or to restore teeth after intensive procedures like root canals. While they are often used for restorative purposes, many patients also receive them for cosmetic purposes such as discreetly covering misshapen or discolored teeth.
While dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials, ours are made from durable metals, beautiful tooth-colored materials, or a combination of these to create a strong and lifelike restoration.
The Dental Crown Process
While it’s best to ask Dr. Peterson about which type of dental crown is best for you, tooth-colored crowns are generally well-suited to the front teeth, as they can recreate a beautiful smile, and metal crowns can be great for the back teeth, as they can handle the most chewing power.
To place a crown, our dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and its surrounding area, and he may use sedation techniques to help you sit comfortably. Then, he will remove any damaged structure from the tooth before taking bite impressions and placing a temporary crown so you can get used to how it feels.
A skilled lab technician will use these impressions to create a customized crown for you. You will come in again when our dentist receives it about two weeks later. Then, your temporary crown will be removed, and the permanent one will be cemented in place. You will then be free to enjoy life with your restored tooth.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
If your tooth needs a crown, going without it can lead to further dental damage or even infections. Several of the benefits dental crowns can bring include:
- Allowing you to chew safely and comfortably.
- Protecting your natural teeth to prevent tooth loss or extractions.
- Dental crowns are versatile appliances that can address several oral health problems at once such as decay and discoloration.
- Dental crowns can be built to match the appearance of the surrounding teeth, making them virtually indistinguishable from the rest of your smile.
With excellent hygiene and maintenance and regular dental visits, your crown can last for more than fifteen years.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are an effective way to restore damaged or weakened teeth, but many patients worry about what they’ll cost. Our team at North Garland Family Dental wants you to feel good about your treatment, no matter what it is. One way we do this is by being as transparent as possible when it comes to finances so you can have peace of mind. Read more below to learn about the cost of dental crowns and how we can help you make them more affordable.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
Several factors can influence the cost of dental crowns, including:
- Material Choice: Crowns can be made from various materials like porcelain, ceramic, metal, or a combination of these. Porcelain and ceramic crowns tend to be more expensive due to their natural appearance and biocompatibility. Metal crowns are typically less costly but are usually far more noticeable and could irritate patients with metal allergies.
- Location of the Tooth: Crowns placed on front teeth often require more precision and aesthetic consideration, which can increase the cost compared to crowns for molars or premolars.
- Preparation and Additional Treatments: If your tooth requires significant preparation, like a root canal or the removal of decay, these procedures will add to the overall cost. Necessary imaging, like X-rays, will also contribute to the final price.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
Dental insurance does typically cover a portion of the cost of dental crowns, as they are often considered a necessary restorative procedure. Coverage varies depending on your specific insurance plan, but most plans pay around 50 percent of the cost. However, it’s important to check with your insurance provider to confirm your benefits and confirm any out-of-pocket costs before continuing with treatment. If you need help, our expert dental team can assist you in understanding your coverage and maximizing your benefits. We’ll even file any claims you need on your behalf!
Other Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
If dental insurance doesn’t fully cover the cost of your crown, or if you don’t have insurance, our team at North Garland Family Dental is happy to help you explore other ways to make your treatment more affordable.
- CareCredit: We proudly offer financing through CareCredit! This excellent service allows you to split the cost of your dental crown into manageable monthly payments with little to no interest.
- In-House Membership Plans: Our in-house membership plan offers discounts on many of our services, including crowns, for one low annual fee.
Dental crowns are an important and often necessary treatment that will protect your teeth and keep your oral health intact. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to us to learn more about your financial options.
Dental Crowns FAQs
Do Dental Crowns Feel Natural?
Once you’ve received your custom dental crowns, it should take a few days until they start to feel much more natural in your mouth. We typically make these restorations out of tooth-colored materials or even durable metals that are both able to stand the excessive pressure involved in everyday chewing. Since they can function similarly to natural tooth enamel, you should be free to enjoy eating your foods without noticing much of a difference. This is why your underlying tooth had its shape altered so that your crown would fit perfectly in place alongside the rest of your smile.
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
In most cases, dental crowns are capable of going as far as 5 to 15 years before needing to be replaced. Of course, the specific timeframe can vary based on factors such as the materials they’re made from. Crowns constructed out of metal may often have greater longevity compared to metal-free restorations. Besides the material, other contributing factors may include things like your oral hygiene, diet, and any habits that can ruin the structure of your crown, including nail biting, teeth grinding, and smoking. Additionally, dental crowns placed in the front may last longer than those on the molars due to chewing in the back of the mouth.
How Do You Know When a Dental Crown Needs to Be Replaced?
To know for sure, you’ll need to have your dentist evaluate the condition of your dental crown. Even so, here are several indications that you may require a replacement:
- Loose: Your dental crown should never feel loose, so be sure to notify our team if this happens, especially after eating something particularly sticky.
- Discomfort: Crowns should protect your tooth from damage, but if they feel uncomfortable, it could be a sign of decay in the underlying tooth. We’ll need to remove the crown to fix the problem.
- Dark Line Around the Base: Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns can have the tooth-colored layer worn down, exposing the metal portion. This is typically a sign that they need a replacement.
- Worsened Appearance: Dental crowns that have suffered chips, cracks, or other damage can impact both your soft oral tissues and confidence. At this point, it’s time for a new restoration.
Are Dental Crowns Covered by Insurance?
Since dental crowns are considered a major restorative procedure, they can often receive coverage from dental insurance plans. In most cases, this could involve having 50% of the cost of treatment covered once you’ve paid your deductible and prior to exceeding your annual maximum. Every insurance plan is unique, so be sure to consult your provider about the details of your policy. Our team can also help with this process and we’re more than happy to walk you through your benefits.
