Dental Crowns – Fort Worth, TX
A Beautiful and Confidence-Inspiring Solution
For teeth that have become damaged, decayed, or otherwise compromised, dental crowns are often considered one of the “go-to” solutions. They’re durable, beautiful, and highly customizable, and patients with crowns don’t just enjoy better oral health – they also experience boosted confidence! Continue reading to learn a little more about the dental crowns we offer here in our Fort Worth office, or feel free to contact us today to schedule a visit or request additional information!
Why Choose Karen Littlefield Neil, DDS for Dental Crowns?
- Friendly and Experienced Dental Team
- CEREC One-Visit Restorations Available
- Comfortable Dental Office with Modern Amenities
What Is a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are customizable caps that can be placed over the chewing surfaces of teeth. They’re normally used to address teeth that have become so severely decayed or damaged that they cannot remain in the mouth, or else they’ll begin to threaten other teeth and trigger other issues. Since they’re placed on teeth above the gumline, they need to look, feel, and function just like your other teeth. This is why we use high-quality materials like EMAX, zirconia, gold, or a combination of them. They can be shaped, colored, and made to replicate your natural teeth. Crowns are generally used to address issues like:
- Broken or misshapen teeth
- Severely decayed teeth
- Teeth that have just undergone root canal therapy
- Missing teeth
The Dental Crown Process
Once we’ve determined that a crown can be used to help your smile, we’ll start the process by taking a look at the tooth in question and removing a thin layer of enamel, to ensure that the crown can lay flush and blend in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth. We’ll take impressions that are then used to manufacture your crown to precise specifications – and since we use a digital impression system for this, it’s remarkably quick and comfortable! And since we also utilize CEREC technology here in our Fort Worth office, we can actually plan out, mill, and place your crown all on the very same day. Once all of this is down, the crown can be placed and bonded to your tooth, and we’ll give you guidelines for how to properly care for it moving forward.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
If you’re still on the fence about receiving a dental crown, consider some of the priceless benefits that they offer:
- They prevent the need for natural teeth to be extracted, which is paramount when it comes to modern dentistry.
- A crown can greatly improve your ability to chew foods and speak clearly.
- They can last for 10, 15, or more years with excellent care.
- Since they’re made from durable, natural-looking materials, they look and feel just like your original teeth.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
Here at our practice, we’re committed to working closely with you to ensure that you fully understand the cost of all the care you’re receiving. However, when it comes to understanding the cost of dental crowns, there are numerous factors that need to be carefully weighed and considered. Continue reading to learn more about what goes into calculating the cost of receiving a dental crown in Fort Worth, or feel free to contact our team with additional questions and concerns.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are highly customizable, durable, and undeniably beautiful. However, quite a lot of work can go into making these solutions, and there are various factors that affect their cost.
- The complexity of the case – Some patients require preliminary treatments before a crown can be placed, such as a root canal or gum disease treatment. These additional procedures can add to the overall cost of care.
- The type of materials used – Dental crowns are made from a variety of different materials, including EMAX, porcelain, gold, and others. With crowns, the quality of the restoration is directly reflected in the price. Higher-grade materials may cost more, but the resulting restoration is very worthwhile.
- How the crown is created – Crowns can be milled in an offsite lab, or they can be manufactured in-office using CEREC technology. Believe it or not, the traditional method tends to be slightly more expensive!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
In many cases, insurance companies will cover at least a portion of the cost of a dental crown. These restorations are normally considered a medical necessity since they can prevent long-term health issues. You can often expect roughly 50% or so of your crown to be covered by insurance, assuming you’ve met your deductible. That said, always check the specifics of your plan beforehand, so you aren’t faced with any surprises when it’s time to pay your bill. Our team is more than happy to work closely with you to make sure you’re using your benefits efficiently.
Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
We know that not everyone has dental insurance – but this doesn’t mean you’re entirely out of luck when it comes to affording your dental crown. Our practice is thrilled to work with CareCredit, a trusted third-party financer that allows qualifying patients to break up the cost of their care into affordable, monthly installments. This means that lacking dental insurance won’t prevent you from restoring your smile and quality of life with a dental crown! To learn more about your payment options or to request additional information, please speak with our team; we are happy to help!
Dental Crown FAQs
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
No dental work is necessarily permanent, but dental crowns are designed to be a long-term solution to chipped or cracked teeth. Depending on a few factors, you can typically expect your new restoration to last anywhere from 5 to 15 years. The materials that your dental crown is made from and the quality of your dental hygiene can both affect this timeframe.
It’s worth noting that enamel will need to be removed from your tooth in order to make room for the dental crown. This process is irreversible, which means that you’ll need to replace your dental crown if it ever breaks.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
Dental crowns themselves are constructed from materials that are resistant to acid erosion, like ceramic. This means that it’s impossible for the restoration itself to develop a cavity.
However, it’s still possible for bacteria to creep underneath the restoration and to erode the enamel, causing you to develop more cavities on the natural tooth. In fact, a tooth that has been treated with dental crown is actually just as likely to develop decay as any other one. For that reason, it’s still critically important that you be thorough with dental hygiene, even if a tooth has a dental crown on it.
Does It Hurt to Get a Dental Crown?
When you get a dental crown, we will be sure to numb your tooth completely. That means that the process of removing enamel and putting the restoration in place will be entirely painless. If you’re uncomfortable with the prospect of dental treatment, we also offer sedatives that can make you much more relaxed while you’re at our office.
After your dental crown is put in place, you might be a little bit sensitive for a few days. This is typically mild and short-lived, and you can get by just fine with the use of over-the-counter pain relievers.
What is the Difference Between Traditional and Same-Day Crowns?
Same-day dental crowns are made from materials similar to traditional ones and are of equal quality. That means that the primary distinctions are in how the restorations are made.
Same-day dental crowns are crafted in-office, which means that we will be able to oversee your treatment from the impressions to the crown’s placement. You’ll also receive this dental crown on the same day you see us, eliminating the need for temporary dental crowns.