Dental Crowns – Dallas, TX
Protect and Preserve Your Tooth
Do you have a severely decayed or damaged tooth, or have you recently undergone a root canal or implant placement procedure? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, you’ll likely need a dental crown to protect and preserve your tooth. Fortunately, Dr. Dizon can provide a durable shield to enhance your smile’s appearance and functionality.
Continue reading to learn more about these prosthetics, and feel free to contact us with any additional questions!
Why Choose Dizon Dental Associates for Dental Crowns?
- Lifelike, Tooth-Colored Materials
- Member of the American Dental Association
- In-House Membership Plans Available
What is a Dental Crown?
Essentially, a dental crown is a customized cap that’s placed over a damaged tooth so that you can continue to use it normally, though they’re also attached to dental implants to replace missing teeth. They can be made from a variety of substances, but we use durable, tooth-colored materials that are made to match the dimensions and shade of your natural teeth. That way, once they’re bonded in place, no one can tell the difference!
Our team recommends this treatment when:
- You have an overly injured tooth that would otherwise require extraction.
- You are rebuilding a lost tooth with a dental implant.
- You are receiving a dental bridge that needs to be anchored in your mouth.
- You recently underwent a root canal and need to protect the treated tooth.
The Dental Crown Process
It usually takes at least two appointments to complete the dental crown process from start to finish. First, you’ll have a consultation appointment with Dr. Dizon to examine your mouth and ensure you’re a good candidate. If there are no issues that could interfere with your results, she’ll proceed by taking X-rays and other images of your tooth and the surrounding bone structure.
Then, our team prepares your tooth by removing some of the enamel so the crown fits correctly on top of it. Next, we’ll make impressions that are sent to a special dental laboratory, which uses them to create your prosthetic. It can take about two to three weeks before the finished product arrives, so we’ll provide a temporary crown to protect your tooth until then.
During your second visit, we’ll safely remove the temporary crown and bond the permanent one in place so that you can leave with a perfectly restored smile!
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
There are several advantages of getting a dental crown in Dallas, such as:
- Preserving your dental health. Injured teeth are prone to disease and decay, impacting your neighboring teeth, jawbone, and gums if left unaddressed.
- Prevent extraction. This shield allows you to keep your natural tooth instead of extracting and replacing it, which has a risk of infection.
- Restore chewing power. Gaps in your grin make it harder to grind your food thoroughly so that it is easily swallowed and digested.
- Improve appearance. These prosthetics look and feel like the real thing, so they don’t attract unwanted attention.
- Resilient solution. It can last 5 to 15+ years if cared for correctly.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are remarkably versatile as a treatment, as they can be adapted to suit any number of purposes. This means that the what your dental crown costs is also likely to vary depending on the particulars of your situation.
We’ll give you a thorough, complete estimate of what your dental crown could cost when we meet you in person. Until then, however, here’s some information that can help you to more effectively budget for the procedure.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
The cost of a dental crown varies based on several factors. First, the extent of dental damage plays a role; more complex cases may require additional procedures, like a root canal or implant placement, before the crown can be applied. The choice of crown material also impacts the price, with options ranging from affordable metals to high-quality porcelain, each offering different aesthetics and durability.
It’s crucial to remember that quality should be prioritized over price when selecting a crown, as a well-made crown should provide comfort, durability, and a natural look that lasts. We’ll be happy to guide you through many of these decisions when we meet you in person.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
Dental insurance often covers a portion of dental crown costs, especially if the procedure is deemed medically necessary due to decay, damage, or structural issues. However, the extent of coverage varies by policy. Typically, insurance may cover 50-80% of the cost for medically necessary crowns, but cosmetic crowns often receive limited or no coverage. It’s best for patients to check with their insurance provider to understand specific benefits, limitations, and potential out-of-pocket expenses.
Other Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
If you don’t have insurance, you’ll be happy to learn that we offer an in-house membership plan that can make your care a lot more affordable. For a flat monthly fee you’ll receive discounts on many of the services we offer, including dental crowns. This is available to you without any waiting periods, deductibles, or yearly maximums.
If you have any questions about what your dental crown could cost, reach out to us for an appointment today!
Dental Crowns FAQs
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
While dental crowns are not considered permanent, with proper care and usage, they can last between five and fifteen years. Once Dr. Dizon has reshaped the underlying tooth to fit a crown, this procedure is irreversible. Your tooth enamel cannot grow back once it is damaged or removed, so you will always need a crown to protect it going forward. However, because they protect the underlying tooth from additional damage, your crown benefits your tooth by helping it to survive much longer than it would have otherwise.
You can extend the longevity of your crown by practicing excellent oral hygiene, visiting Dr. Dizon twice a year for your regular, bi-annual exam and cleanings, and wearing a bite/night guard if necessary.
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
On average, you can expect your dental crown to last between five and fifteen years; however, this may vary depending on several factors, including:
- The material your crown is made of (metal tends to last longer, but this is not always the case)
- Your diet
- Your oral hygiene routine
- Any bad habits such as smoking, nail biting, teeth grinding, etc.
Furthermore, crowns on your front teeth may last slightly longer than crowns on your molars, because they are used differently and are not subject to the same level of wear and tear from chewing as molars are.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
While your dental crown itself cannot get cavities because it is not a real tooth, the underlying tooth your crown is protecting still can. In fact, a tooth with a crown has approximately the same risk of developing cavities as one without. Poor oral hygiene can allow dangerous bacteria and plaque to form around your gumline where your tooth meets your crown. They can then travel underneath it, and cause cavities and decay. To prevent this, simply care for your crowned teeth the same way you do your natural teeth: brush them twice a day and floss them at least once a day, and never skip your bi-annual exam and cleanings with Dr. Dizon.
Can Dental Crowns Be Whitened?
No matter what material your dental crown is made of it cannot be whitened like your real teeth can. That’s because in a natural tooth, the enamel is porous. Whitening gels can infiltrate these pores, breaking apart stains contained within. Because your crowns do not have these pores, they cannot be lightened. They can, however, become discolored or stained, so be sure to brush them well and avoid highly pigmented foods like red wine and coffee.
Metal-free crowns like the ones offered by Dr. Dizon are designed to blend in with your surrounding teeth as seamlessly as possible. To reduce your risk of your natural teeth becoming stained or discolored and making your new crown look obvious, speak to Dr. Dizon about professional whitening prior to getting your crown placed.