Dental Crowns – Fort Worth, TX
Restore Your Tooth to Its Proper State
Are you troubled by a tooth that has been severely injured or decayed? Luckily, restorative dental treatments can return your compromised teeth to their original strength, function, and appearance. At Harris Parkway Dental Care, our skilled team can treat your smile with high-quality dental crowns made from porcelain or ceramic that are both durable and lifelike. Feel free to contact our office to schedule a consultation.
Why Choose Harris Parkway Dental Care for Dental Crowns?
- Experienced and Compassionate Dentist
- Porcelain or Ceramic Crowns Deliver Lifelike Results
- We Welcome Dental Insurance
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.
Dental Crowns FAQs
What are Dental Crowns Made From?
Historically, dental restorations like fillings and crowns were made from amalgam metal that could make your teeth look dark or gray, and many patients wonder if that’s still the case today. Thankfully, due to recent developments in tools, materials, and technology over recent decades, there are more lifelike options available.
For example, our experts can provide dental crowns made from beautiful, tooth-colored materials like durable porcelain or ceramic. This material reflects light like enamel and can be customized to match your natural shade for seamless results. Not only that, but it’s also incredibly resilient and can last 10+ years if cared for correctly.
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
Typically, you can expect these covers to last anywhere from 5 to 15 years, but it depends on your unique circumstances. Several factors that can influence their longevity, including:
- Your dental hygiene habits. Brushing and flossing twice daily is imperative to prevent plaque buildup that contributes to cavities and gum disease. If the underlying tooth is compromised, your restoration could be damaged or dislodged.
- What they’re made from. Although less appealing, metal dental crowns tend to last longer than ones made from porcelain.
- Your diet. Consuming acidic foods and beverages, like coffee or alcohol, can erode the cement bonding your prosthetic over your tooth. Also, eating overly hard or sticky foods can potentially yank or shove it out of place.
- Where it’s located. A crown over a molar sustains additional wear and tear from chewing that can wear it down faster than one covering a front tooth.
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
That depends on how you define ‘permanent!’ Dental crowns can last a decade or more if they’re properly maintained, but there’s a chance they may need to be replaced at some point down the road. In this sense, they are not permanent because they won’t last forever.
However, for them to fit correctly, your dentist must remove some enamel from the underlying tooth. This protective outer layer doesn’t regenerate, making this an irreversible change to your smile. Then, once your restoration is bonded in place, it’s not meant to be removed. Because of this, many providers and patients consider these prosthetics to be a permanent addition.
How do I Know if I Need to Replace My Dental Crown?
Although an aged dental crown may not constitute an emergency, it’s important to recognize the signs that its nearing the end of its timeline so you can replace it. Otherwise, it might sustain an injury or other damage that harms the underlying tooth.
Some signs that indicate it’s time for a new restoration are:
- You might experience aches if the tooth under your crown is compromised by cavities or gum disease. Our team will remove it to repair any damage then replace it.
- A loose or unstable prosthetic can point to errors in its placement, damage to the underlying tooth, or a dissolved bonding agent that must be addressed sooner rather than later.
- It looks worn. Your restoration can’t enhance your appearance if it has become chipped, cracked, stained, or thinned.
- There’s a dark line at the base. If you have a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown, the metallic layer may become more visible as the ceramic wears down.
If you’re still unsure whether it’s time to replace your dental crown, the best way to find out is to contact us to schedule a consultation!