Dental Crowns – Catonsville, MD
Reliably Repair Broken Teeth
If you've ever seriously damaged an adult tooth, you're familiar with the embarrassment and inconvenience that comes with a damaged smile. It can be difficult to do the things you once did on a daily basis. Chewing, drinking, and speaking can suddenly become challenging. Thankfully, you don't have to settle for an imperfect grin. Instead, talk to Advance Dental Clinic to learn more about dental crowns in Catonsville, MD. We can reliably repair broken teeth and help you get back to enjoying a healthy mouth.
Why Choose Advance Dental Clinic for Dental Crowns?
- Sedation to Enhance Patient Comfort
- Beautiful, Custom-Designed Restorations
- Compassionate & Caring Team
What Is a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are useful dental devices made to fit over the tops of your teeth. Most tooth crowns are custom-made; this ensures they fit on your teeth snugly and look as realistic and natural as possible amongst your other teeth. Generally, dental crowns are made of porcelain; however, they can be made of different materials, such as Emax, Zmax, zirconia, or porcelain-fused-to-metal.
There are many reasons to opt for dental crowns. However, some of the most common involve protecting and restoring sensitive or damaged teeth. A dental crown fitted over the top of a vulnerable tooth can help shield it from potential trauma caused by eating and drinking. Additionally, if the tooth in question causes problems with your speech, a cap can help remedy your troubles.
The Process of Getting a Dental Crown
The process of getting a dental crown usually takes at least two appointments. During the first appointment, we will prepare your tooth by removing a bit of its enamel. This step ensures that your restoration will look as natural as possible. Then, we will take impressions of your teeth and use them as the basis for designing the shape of your crown.
After the design is finalized, a dental lab will fabricate your restoration. In the meantime, you will wear a temporary crown. Once your permanent one is ready, you will return to our office so we can verify its fit before attaching it to your tooth.
Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
A dental crown can provide a number of benefits:
- Protection for a damaged tooth. A crown can allow you to enjoy pain-free function and strength from damaged teeth. It could even prevent those teeth from needing to be extracted.
- Tooth replacement. Crowns can work along with dental implants or pontics (artificial teeth) to bridge gaps in your smile.
- Beauty and comfort. We carefully design crowns so they look and feel as natural as possible.
- With proper care, a dental crown may last for 10 years or longer.
- Easy maintenance. If you maintain good oral hygiene and consume a reasonable diet, you can expect your crown to stand the test of time.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
Because every case and every patient is unique, the cost of dental crowns can vary. When you attend your restorative consultation, we can share a price estimate and help you understand your payment options. For example, we are happy to accept insurance, and most patients qualify for low-interest financing as well.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
A few factors that might have a bearing on the cost of your crown include:
- Preliminary treatment. Some patients require root canal therapy or other procedures before their tooth can support a crown. Obviously, such services can significantly increase the total cost of care.
- Crowns can be made of a variety of materials, which can have different costs. In our office, we favor the use of porcelain, gold, EMAX, Z-max, zirconia, and porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM). We can discuss the pros, cons, and cost of each type of crown.
- The crown creation process. We need to factor dental laboratory fees into the amount we charge for crowns.
We urge you to keep in mind that cheaper is not always better! Remember, you want a high-quality restoration that will look good, work well with your bite, and serve you well for many years. “Bargain” crowns often fall far short of expectations!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
Very often, yes, dental insurance does cover crowns. In most cases, crowns are classified as a major procedure, so your plan might cover up to 50% of their cost, up to the amount of your annual benefits limit. With the help of their insurance, many patients are able to reduce their out-of-pocket fees by hundreds of dollars or more. Our practice is in-network with most PPO plans, and we will be happy to help you file claims and understand how your coverage works.
Other Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
Beyond insurance, there is another provision that might be helpful when you are paying for your crown: financing. We are pleased to work with CareCredit, a third-party lender, to provide low-interest payment plans. The application process is fast, and most patients are quickly deemed eligible for an arrangement that works with their budget.
Would you like to learn more about dental crowns and their cost? Our team will be happy to answer your questions! Get in touch with us today.
Dental Crowns FAQs
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
Though dental crowns are not technically permanent, they are a long-term solution that can protect the teeth wearing them for five to fifteen years on average. When Dr. Bemani reshapes a tooth to receive a crown, the procedure is irreversible, and the tooth will have to wear a crown for protection for the rest of its life since enamel does not grow back. However, these restorative appliances serve to protect the teeth wearing them from further damage and infection, which can allow it to last much longer than it would have otherwise. The best ways to keep your dental crown in great shape for as long as possible include practicing excellent oral hygiene, attending regular dental checkups and cleanings at our office, limiting your sugar consumption, and wearing a mouthguard or nightguard as needed.
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
Dental crowns last between five and fifteen years on average, but their lifespans mostly depend on the materials they are made from and the care they receive. While metal crowns may last longer than metal-free restorations, this is not always the case, and the difference is often negligible. Habits that can decrease the lifespan of your crowns include poor oral hygiene, excessive sugar or alcohol consumption, smoking, teeth grinding, chewing on ice or non-food items, or using the teeth to open packages or bottles. Crowns on the front teeth sometimes last slightly longer than those placed on molars since these back teeth bear more pressure and endure more wear and tear during the chewing process.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
Since dental crowns are made from materials that cannot be metabolized by bacteria such as gold, porcelain, EMAX, Zmax, and zirconia, they are immune to tooth decay such as cavities. However, the teeth wearing them can still develop cavities, and treating these infections usually requires the crowns to be removed and possibly replaced. Poor oral hygiene is the leading cause of tooth decay, and bacteria colonizing the area between the crown and the tooth can be especially harmful since they are protected from the mouth’s natural cleaning process. The best ways to prevent these infections are to practice excellent oral hygiene, see us regularly for exams and cleanings, and limit your sugar intake.
Does Getting a Dental Crown Hurt?
Dr. Bemani begins a dental crown procedure by treating the patient with an appropriate anesthetic to ensure that the process is completely painless, and they may also receive dental sedation if they need extra help sitting calmly and comfortably. While this is always done during the first appointment when the tooth is reshaped, anesthesia is not usually used during the second appointment when the final crown is placed unless the patient requests it.
After the tooth is reshaped and, to a lesser extent, after the final crown is placed, you may experience some dental sensitivity for a few days afterward. This is more likely if you had a root canal prior to receiving your crown, and, while over-the-counter pain relievers should help you stay comfortable, call our office if the discomfort seems to get worse after a few days. While this mild and temporary discomfort may be slightly irksome, it’s important to remember that the protection a dental crown provides can prevent much more severe pain later on.