General Information about Dental Crowns
Dental crowns, sometimes called caps, are placed over a natural tooth for a number of reasons. It could be to protect a weak tooth or for cosmetic reasons, such as to improve the shape or cover staining.
The process of getting a dental crown includes filing down the tooth in order to provide room and an acceptable surface on which the crown can be attached. Because permanent crowns are almost always made off-site from the dentist’s office, it can take several days once your tooth or teeth are filed down until the crowns can be put in place by a cosmetic dentist.
Often, temporary crowns will be used during this period. Unlike with permanent crowns, you will need to be careful about what you eat and how you care for the temporary crown. You will need to avoid certain foods, try to avoid chewing on the side where the crown is located and take extra care when flossing. Failing to take such precautions can cause your crown to come off.
Happily, permanent dental crowns are much easier to care for and, in fact, perform just like your natural teeth. While the crown will protect the tooth in some ways, you will still need to practice good oral hygiene because it does not protect from everything, such as gum disease.
Dental crowns come in a variety of materials. Each has their pros and cons, and the price of your crown will depend largely on what type of material that you choose.
Metal crowns perform very well and are virtually indestructible. The rather obvious downside is that they look like metal. Obviously, for cosmetic dentistry purposes, this would not be the ideal choice. While some find them to acceptable for use in the back of the mouth, others would rather not use this type of crown at all.
Resin is another material used in dental crowns. This type of crown is less expensive than porcelain, but it is not as tough. These crowns often need to be replaced and can crack more easily than other types of dental crowns.
Porcelain crowns tend to provide the best match when it comes to a crown that looks like natural teeth. These crowns cost more than resin, but are a good choice for the front teeth because of their superior aesthetic quality.
Many insurance companies will cover at least part of the cost of a dental crown. Of course, you will need to check with your provider to see exactly what is covered.
Contact our El Paso cosmetic dentistry office for more information on dental crowns and cosmetic dentistry treatments as well as sedation dentistry.