Dental Crowns Weatherford

What Is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a customized restoration that is permanently bonded to a tooth to restore its structure, function, and even its appearance. It’s essentially a tooth-shaped “cap” that fits snugly over a decayed, chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged tooth. Not only do crowns build up your tooth so that it can withstand the daily pressures of chewing, but they also seal out bacteria from attacking the tooth and causing cavities.

In the past, crowns were made of various metals like silver or gold. These days, though, most dentists use porcelain due to its incredible ability to mimic tooth enamel. Each crown is custom-made to blend in with your surrounding teeth, making it look like a natural part of your smile.

Am I a Candidate for a Dental Crown?

We may recommend a dental crown for several reasons, such as:

• Repairing a broken tooth and protecting it from further damage
• Restoring a tooth that already has a lot of fillings
• Protecting a tooth that has received root canal treatment
• Covering a dental implant
• Concealing a cosmetically imperfect tooth

The Process of Getting a Dental Crown

Receiving a dental crown generally takes two appointments once we’ve decided that it’s the right treatment for you. During the first of these visits, we prepare your tooth by shaving off a super-thin layer of enamel from the outside of the tooth. This ensures there will be ample room in your mouth for the restoration. In most cases, we can do a digital scan vs. a traditonal impression of that  area of your mouth and send  it to the dental lab or we transfer it to our own in-office lab. In some cases, we are able to fabricate your custom crown in-office with our CEREC crown fabricating system. While your crown is being expertly crafted, we place a temporary crown to protect your tooth. In one day to possibly two weeks later, you’ll return to our office, and we’ll switch out your temporary for your permanent crown.

Benefits of Dental Crowns

When your tooth is damaged, it needs to be repaired right away, or else it becomes so worn-down that it needs to be removed entirely. Since missing teeth come with a litany of oral health problems, we generally try to preserve your natural pearly whites for as long as possible. Crowns are perfect for this purpose, as they protect for years to come. In addition to saving your tooth from extraction, some of the benefits of dental crowns include:

• Protection for a weakened tooth
• Easy cleaning and maintenance
• Ability to last upwards of a decade with proper care
• Natural-looking appearance
• Confidence boost from having a prettier smile

Contact Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Weatherford to make an appointment for dental crowns today.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns

During your appointment, after we’ve examined your smile and determined that a crown is the best solution for saving your tooth, we’ll also provide you with a cost estimate before moving forward. Here’s a brief breakdown of some of the factors that contribute to the cost of getting a dental crown, along with some useful information regarding how your dental insurance can help you save when it comes to restoring damaged or decayed teeth.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are specifically made to fit your tooth, so they come in all kinds of different shapes and sizes. That said, there are numerous factors that must be considered when it comes to their cost, including:

• The severity of the dental damage and the possible need for preliminary treatments beforehand. This could include a root canal, or even dental implant placement.
• The number of dental crowns that are needed and whether or not a traditional crown or dental implant-retained crown is being used.
• The type of material that will be used to craft your dental crown; this can be one of several different natural-looking materials. In the past, metal amalgam was the go-to material.
• Whether the crown will be created off-site at a lab or on-site using a CEREC machine. Our office is excited to offer same-day CEREC crowns!

While it might seem tempting to opt for lesser-quality materials, the reality is that the quality of your dental crown will be directly reflected by what it’s made of.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?

In most cases, dental insurance companies do cover a portion of the cost associated with dental crowns; it’s even possible for your insurer to cover up to 50% of the total. This is because crowns are often deemed medically necessary since they can restore your tooth and protect your future oral health, while also preventing costly future issues. However, the only way to know for certain is to review the specifics of your plan—which our team is also happy to assist you with! Just contact our office for more information. 

Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable

If you’re uninsured, there are alternative solutions designed to help you pay for your dental crown in Weatherford. Our practice is partnered with CareCredit, a financier that offers qualifying patients low and no-interest plans designed with flexible payment windows. This means that paying for your crown won't break the bank—and you can focus less on finances and more on maintaining a healthy, beautiful smile.