Dental Crowns – Fort Worth, TX

What Is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a cap designed to be worn by a tooth that has been damaged by injury or decay or was misshapen to begin with. These caps are designed to mimic the color, luster, texture, and structure of real teeth, allowing them to seamlessly fit in with the rest of your smile. They’re also quite strong, ensuring that you can chew with them normally.

Almost anyone can be an excellent candidate for dental crowns after a brief consultation at our office. Dental crowns are frequently used to reinforce teeth that are chipped, cracked, decayed, or misshapen. They can also be used to anchor restorations like dental bridges in place or to restore teeth that have been treated with root canals.

The Process of Getting a Dental Crown

Dental crowns are usually placed over two appointments. During your consultation, we’ll ensure that you understand what to expect during these visits as well as determine whether ceramic or porcelain is the right material for your crown. Generally speaking, porcelain crowns are more durable while ceramic crowns have a more natural appearance.

During your first appointment, our dentist will begin by using a local anesthetic to render the process painless. They will then reshape your tooth to make room for the crown before taking impressions of it. You will then receive a temporary crown so you can get used to wearing it, and the impressions will be sent to a lab where your permanent cap will be manufactured.

Once we receive your crown a few weeks later, you’ll come back to have it placed. We’ll remove the temporary crown and cement the permanent one to your tooth. After our dentist checks how it fits and makes any final adjustments, you’ll be free to enjoy your restored smile.

Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown

A dental crown can play a massive part in keeping a troubled tooth healthy and can prevent further infections or injuries. A few key benefits of dental crowns include:

• Comfortable restorations that allow you to chew normally
• Protecting your natural teeth to prevent injuries that may require extraction
• Crowns are versatile treatments that can address several oral health problems at once
• High-quality materials ensure that your crown will match the rest of your smile, making it highly unlikely that anyone else will notice them.

Caring for your dental crown will require you to brush and floss regularly while taking care to clean around the base of the crown. If you can keep your crown clean, be mindful when chewing, and show up for regular dental appointments, your crown may last for more than fifteen years.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns

The cost of your dental crowns cannot be determined unless you meet with a member of our Harris Parkway Dental Care team. The reasons and factors that occur among each individual are different, which is why you cannot expect there to be a set price for this type of restorative treatment. Instead, we will customize your cost estimate based on what we find during the initial appointment. Also, we’ll discuss whether you plan to use your dental insurance to help minimize your out-of-pocket expenses or would like to discuss alternative payment options.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns

Each dental crown is different – its size, shape, color, and even the material that’s used to make it all are factors we will consider when building your treatment plan and cost estimate. We’ll also take into account:

• The amount of damage or decay found on the affected tooth
• Whether you will need additional preliminary treatments before placing a dental crown, such as dental implant placement or a root canal
• How it will be created, as some dentists use in-house CEREC technology, while most send impressions to an off-site dental lab for creation
• Whether we will use ceramic or porcelain to craft your new crown

If you’re looking for ways to save money on your dental care, you may try to opt for cheaper materials to cut down on costs. However, this is not the best approach, as the lower the quality, the shorter the lifespan.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?

If learning you need a dental crown has you concerned about your finances, you’ll be pleased to know that most dental insurance plans offer coverage for dental crowns. As a restorative service that is medically necessary to improve your oral and overall health, insurers tend to provide anywhere from 50-80% coverage for this type of care. Of course, checking with a member of our staff to determine the exact amount you can be expected to pay out of pocket is most helpful.

Other Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable

At Harris Parkway Dental Care, our dentists understand that private dental insurance is not an affordable option for all patients. This is why we offer additional payment options to make receiving essential restorative care well within reach of any budget.

Not only do we provide an in-house membership plan that allows you to pay one flat annual rate and receive preventive care at no extra charge, but we also include valuable discounts you can take advantage of when needing other available services.

We also partner with CareCredit and Compassionate Finance – third-party companies that make paying for dental treatment easy and affordable. With plans that carry little or no interest, you can choose one that works well within your timeframe and budget.