Dental crowns offer several advantages, but there are also risks and costs to consider. This post provides an overview of all key factors involved in the decision-making process.
Dental crowns are a popular choice for restoring and protecting teeth. Still, before deciding, you’ll want to understand the various types of crowns available and the potential risks and benefits. This post will teach you more about dental crowns, including the procedures and costs involved.
What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a form of dental repair that encases an entire tooth. It’s commonly used to repair broken, cracked, or severely decayed teeth and provides cosmetic benefits. Crowns are usually made of porcelain, ceramic, gold, or alloy materials and come in various shapes and sizes. Speaking with a dentist before deciding which type of crown is the best option for you is important.
Think of dental crowns as a snug hat for your tooth that can restore your damaged tooth. The dental crown is attached to your tooth and covers the visible section of your damaged tooth.
What are Dental Crowns Made Of?
- Metal:
Dental crowns comprise metals. Some of the metals include gold, nickel, palladium, and chromium. Metal crowns are the least likely to break, chip, or shatter, last the longest in terms of wear, and require only a minimal portion of your tooth to be removed. They can also endure biting and chewing. The most significant disadvantage of this sort of crown is its shiny tint. Metal crowns are an excellent solution for molars that are not visible.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal:
A big advantage of a porcelain dental crown is that it can be colored to match the teeth next to it, so, on the surface, you have all natural-looking teeth.
Sometimes, the porcelain crown wears down the teeth beneath or above it in the mouth. However, the metal behind the porcelain cover of the crown occasionally peeks through as a dark line. Other disadvantages include the possibility of the porcelain piece of the crown crumbling or falling off.
An excellent place to use this type of dental crown is on the front or back teeth.
- All-resin:
Resin dental crowns are often less expensive than other crown varieties. However, they deteriorate with time and are more prone to breaking than porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.
- All-ceramic or all-porcelain:
These dental crowns provide the best natural color match compared to other crown varieties.
They’re also an excellent option if you’re allergic to metals. Damaged front teeth can benefit from all-ceramic crowns.
They are not, however, as robust as porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns. They can also cause the teeth opposite them in the mouth to wear down slightly more than metal or resin crowns.
- Pressed ceramic:
These dental crowns have a firm inner core. Dentists use pressed ceramic dental crowns in place of the all-ceramic crown and its metal liner. The porcelain provides the best natural color match for your teeth. They are also more durable than an all-porcelain crown.
Why Would You Need a Dental Crown?
You may require a dental crown for a variety of reasons, including:
- Protecting a weak (perhaps decayed) tooth from shattering or holding a weak tooth together if sections of it are fractured.
- Restoring a broken or severely damaged tooth.
- Covering and supporting a loose tooth.
- Supporting a dental bridge.
- Covering up crooked or discolored teeth.
- Providing coverage for a dental implant.
- Covering up a tooth undergoing a root canal treatment.
- What are the Types of Dental Crowns?
- There are several kinds of dental crowns dentists use.
Onlays and 3/4 crowns are dental crowns that do not cover as much of the underlying tooth as standard dental crowns.
A standard or traditional dental crown will completely cover your damaged tooth.
Onlays and 3/4 crowns may be appropriate when you have a strong tooth structure. Compared to full crown coverage, it is considered a more cautious method. In this operation, your dentist removes the damaged area and reshapes the tooth to accommodate the crown.
Benefits of a Dental Crown.
Dental crowns can help strengthen weakened or damaged teeth, protect them from further damage, and improve the appearance of your smile.
Dental crowns also make it easier to keep your affected tooth clean. Since they fit securely over your existing tooth, the crowns discourage the accumulation of plaque or bacteria.
Additionally, if you have a filling that is too large for one tooth, a crown can be used to cover it instead and provide better support.
Dental crowns are a fantastic long-term alternative because they are durable and typically last 5-15 years, increasing patient satisfaction with the treatment.
Treatment with dental crowns has a high success rate compared to other dental restoration methods or no treatment at all. Several scientific studies that investigated their use have supported this.
Risks Involved in Getting a Dental Crown.
As with any dental treatment, some potential risks are associated with getting a dental crown. First and foremost, there is a risk of infection due to bacteria that may enter the tooth during preparation for the crown.
Your dentist may also need to file the tooth into the right shape to fit the crown. This action is extensive and irreversible. In addition, since dental crowns cover your existing tooth, this could create more areas for plaque and bacteria to grow, leading to decay.
Some individuals may feel discomfort following the treatment, particularly sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures. Brushing with toothpaste intended for sensitive teeth can help to alleviate discomfort. Another drawback is experiencing pain or sensitivity when biting down. This typically is caused by the crown being too high and blocking the teeth on the opposite jaw. Fortunately, your dentist can quickly correct this by altering the crown height.
Crowns can also break or wear down over time if the material used is not strong enough. Crowns, especially those constructed of porcelain, might chip at times. Your dentist can handle small chips and repair them without removing the crown. But more significant or multiple breaks in the crown may necessitate its replacement.
The dental cement used to secure the crown in place may wash away in some people. This can make the crown lose, allowing bacteria to get behind the tooth and cause dental rot. The crown may occasionally fall off entirely, mainly due to a faulty fit or insufficient dental cement to keep the dental crown in place, necessitating refitting or replacing the crown.
Dental crowns are typically more expensive than other direct tooth restorations, which may deter some patients. The cost varies depending on the material of the crown (for example, porcelain crowns are more expensive than gold crowns) and can range from $800 to $1500 per crown.
Finally, allergies to certain materials used in crown fabrication can create further complications.
How Much Does a Dental Crown Cost?
The cost of a dental crown varies widely, depending on the material used. Crowns made with porcelain fused to the metal usually cost between $800 and $1,500. All-ceramic crowns are more expensive, ranging from $1,100 to $2,000. More advanced materials, such as zirconia, can cost up to $3,000 per crown.
A significant factor in determining the cost will also be whether or not you have dental insurance that covers part of the expense.
Alternatives to Dental Crowns.
There are alternatives to dental crowns if you’re looking for a more cost-effective treatment option. Your dentist may recommend Inlay or Onlay restorations if your teeth aren’t as severely damaged.
This type of restoration is less invasive than a crown. It can repair the tooth’s surface instead of encasing it entirely with porcelain, metal, or other material. Bridges may also be used as an alternative to crowns if multiple adjacent teeth are missing or damaged.
Weigh The Pros, Risks & Other Options
To ensure that you have the appropriate recommendation and process, you should weigh the dangers and benefits of a dental crown.
When the goal is to repair a lost tooth between healthy adjacent teeth, a bridge with crowns is stronger than detachable partial dentures.
However, if the funds are available, implants are usually considered a superior alternative to crowns. This is because they do not impact the healthy surrounding teeth and have a decreased risk of infection underneath the bridge.
As a result, if you can afford a dental implant, this may be the better alternative. Dental crowns with a bridge may be the ideal alternative if you desire a more durable but less expensive solution.
It is critical to assess the procedure’s objective and determine the best course of action in your best interests with your dentist.
The whole team at A-Dental Center, which serves the Greater Los Angeles area, is committed to giving you the gentle, customized treatment you deserve.
When you come to our office, we put you first. Your dental team will attentively listen to your smile issues and goals before developing a strategy to help you enjoy your biggest smile. We believe in including you in your treatment and explaining the specifics of numerous treatment choices. Hence, you have the essential information to select the most appropriate plan for your smile.
