What are dental crowns?
Dental crowns are custom-made caps that are going to cover the whole surface of your tooth in order to protect the tooth, make the tooth stronger, and give you more chewing capacity.
When are dental crowns typically recommended?
Dental crowns are typically recommended when patients have big fillings, large cavities, after root canals, or when the tooth is cracked.
How do dental crowns work?
The way that dental crowns work is that they're custom-made parts that are made in the lab, and the lab will fabricate a cap that is going to cover the tooth all the way around to protect it and allow you to chew comfortably.
What materials are dental crowns made of?
Dental crowns are made of different types of materials that can range from gold, porcelain fused to metal, ceramic crowns, and zirconia crowns. There's a different variety depending on the patient's condition, depending on the patient's bite strength, and if the patient has a really strong bite and is a grinder or a clencher. Of course, the aesthetic crowns, or ceramic crowns, are the most used and the most beautiful, of course, in the anterior teeth to enhance and improve your smile.
How long do dental crowns last?
Typically, dental crowns last between 10 to 15 years. That is considered a successful crown. Of course, if you are really compliant with your oral hygiene, if you come to see us every six months, you're going to have more chances of having successful crowns that can last for more than 10 to 15 years.
Also, the overall health of the patient and the medications that the patient takes can affect the quality and quantity of your saliva, and that can also affect the longevity of your crowns.
What can patients expect during the dental crown process?
Patients can expect that when they come in for a dental crown, it is going to be a two-visit process. In the first visit, we are going to prepare the tooth to give room for the material for the crown. Then we're going to do a digital impression or a scan so the lab can fabricate a nice crown for you. That day, at the same time, we're going to fabricate a nice temporary crown that you're going to take home.
After a couple of weeks, we're going to have your crown back from the lab. In the second visit, we're going to try in, adjust, and fit your final crown, and then we're going to deliver it with the final cement.
What are the benefits of dental crowns compared to fillings and bridges?
The benefits of dental crowns compared to fillings and bridges are that typically dental crowns are recommended when fillings are too big, when there is a lot of tooth lost, and giving that functionality with a filling is very challenging. Those cases are indicated for full-coverage crowns.
Also, if the tooth has had a root canal, if the tooth is cracked, or if it is discolored. Compared with bridges, crowns can restore a single tooth, while a bridge can also help replace teeth that are missing.
What are the main risks associated with dental crowns?
The main risk associated with dental crowns is that the patient can experience some sensitivity and discomfort afterward. Typically, the sensitivity can go away after a few days, and most patients are sensitive to cold.
Why are dental crowns indicated after a root canal?
Dental crowns are indicated after patients get a root canal because when you get a root canal, the tooth becomes dry, really frail, and loses the majority of its strength. It's the best way to protect the tooth and to keep the tooth in your mouth, typically.
How much do dental crowns cost?
One of the most common questions that I get is, how much are dental crowns? Dental crowns can range from $1,900 up to $2,500, depending on the material of the crown, because patients sometimes need gold crowns. Gold crowns are going to be more expensive than a ceramic crown. Also, if you need a buildup, the buildup is going to add additional cost to the crown.
What results can patients expect from dental crowns?
The results that patients can expect are going to be a beautiful, nicely polished crown after treatment that is going to give you great chewing capacity and that is going to restore and give you back the tooth structure that was lost. Also, if we're doing a smile design or a smile makeover, of course, it's going to give you that nice, bright smile that patients are looking for.
At Palm and Pearl Dental, you come first. Whether you need dental care or simply have questions, call us at (239) 445-4205 or email [email protected] to schedule your visit. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.