Dental Crowns – Lincoln, NE
Realistic Restorations for Damaged Teeth
Whether you have a cracked or decayed tooth, composite resin filling may not be sufficient to keep the tooth in one piece, but you don’t want to lose the tooth entirely. Fortunately, a dental crown serves as a “cap” over the tooth, covering the entire surface area. If you have a tooth in need of a dental crown, you can trust our team at Williamsburg Dental to create a completely custom, natural-looking restoration. Reach out to one of our offices for an appointment today!
What is a Dental Crown?
When the structural integrity of a tooth is compromised by deep decay or injury, a restoration called a crown may be placed in order to preserve the tooth, protecting it from further damage. This restoration may be fabricated using gold, metal alloys, ceramic, acrylic, porcelain, or a combination of these materials.
The Dental Crown Process
Getting a dental crown usually takes two separate appointments. During the first, you may undergo root canal therapy or another minor procedure where the tooth is altered to make space for the crown. After taking impressions of your upper and lower arches, we send this information to our lab. Before you exit the office, we attach a temporary crown to protect the tooth until the permanent one arrives. Then, you return for us to bond the custom crown in place.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
In many cases, a dental crown is the only treatment standing between preserving the tooth and losing it. In other words, getting a dental crown allows you to keep your natural tooth and better protect it against future infection or injury. Overall, dental crowns are able to do the following:
- To protect a tooth that has been fractured
- To prevent a weak tooth from chipping or fracturing in the future
- To restore a tooth that has undergone endodontic therapy (root canal treatment)
- To cosmetically enhance a tooth that is too small, misshapen, or badly discolored
- To replace a filling in a tooth that has sustained too much damage for traditional fillings
- To complete a single dental implant.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
Before repairing your broken or decayed teeth, you may be wondering if you can afford it. The truth is that a dental crown is a smart investment in your long-term oral health, but we understand that cost plays a role in your decision making. After we’ve diagnosed the problem, we’ll share our proposed treatment plan along with the cost involved. Keep in mind that we are willing to work with you and take away the financial stress of rebuilding your smile.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
Not all crowns are priced the same amount. The total will change depending on several factors, including the type of materials used to make the crown like porcelain or metal fused to porcelain. We take advantage of many types of crowns, so the cost is a fairly wide range. The pricing will also be influenced by where in your mouth the crown will be placed. Molars require more durable and robust crowns, which means these restorations tend to cost more. During your consultation, we’ll take all these factors into consideration.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
Yes, dental insurance coverage generally applies to dental crowns. However, you should know that it will pay about half the total cost for your crown, meaning you’ll be responsible for paying the other half out-of-pocket. Our front desk team will research your policy to make sure you take advantage of all the benefits you are entitled to and save the maximum amount possible.
Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
In addition to being in-network with most insurance providers, we offer a few other ways to ease the financial strain of getting dental crowns. For example, we can accept payment through a flexible spending account (FSA) or a health savings account (HSA) if you have one through your employment. We can also walk you through the application for flexible financing, which allows you to pay for treatment on a monthly plan, instead of all at once.
Dental Crowns FAQs
Although dental crowns in Lincoln are a fairly common treatment, you may still have questions about them. Instead of leaving these questions unanswered, we have taken the opportunity to respond to some of the most common ones here. Take a look and see if your concerns are addressed. If not, or if you need more clarification, we invite you to ask us! We’re here to help you and want you to feel confident about your treatment.
Will My Dental Crown Look Realistic?
Dental crowns can be made of various materials, but if you are concerned about aesthetics, porcelain may be the right choice for your tooth. This substance reflects light just as enamel does, making it look completely natural. For the most part, porcelain is also durable; however, some teeth may require more reinforcement, meaning the porcelain may need to be fused to metal. Before we treat your tooth, we can talk about the options and find the perfect solution for your case.
Does Getting a Dental Crown Hurt?
Before we prepare the tooth for a dental crown, we will give you a local anesthetic, which will keep the area numb. As a result, you shouldn’t feel any pain while we’re treating the tooth. However, some patients experience sensitivity when the anesthetic wears off, especially with a generic, temporary crown. Most of the time, this sensitivity goes away within a few days or once your custom crown is placed onto the tooth. Before you leave with your permanent crown, we’ll make sure that your bite feels natural and comfortable.
How Long Will My Dental Crown Last?
Most dental crowns typically go for about a decade before requiring replacement, but they have the potential to remain in good condition for up to 20 years! By then, the crown may show signs of wear and tear and staining. The lifespan of a dental crown may vary based on several things, including your oral hygiene, food choices, whether you grind your teeth, and more. When we place your crown, we will give you instructions for maintaining it for the long term.
How Can I Make My Dental Crown Last as Long as Possible?
First and foremost, the crown will last a lot longer if you take good care of it, meaning you keep up healthy habits in your lifestyle. Daily brushing and flossing are required to prevent plaque buildup, which may not harm the crown itself, but it could infect the tooth underneath or cause gum disease. In addition, you need to come to our office at least every six months for regular checkups and cleanings. For further protection for your crown, you should be careful eating hard foods like nuts or chips and avoid chewing things that aren’t meant to be chewed, such as pencils and ice.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Dental Crown?
In total, receiving a crown usually requires at least two appointments. Additional visits may become necessary if the crown doesn’t fit perfectly right away. The dental lab needs between two and three weeks to fabricate the custom, realistic restoration that will resemble your other teeth and blend in with the others seamlessly. We’ll let you know when your crown has come to our office and try to schedule your appointment as soon as possible to complete your smile.
How Can You Tell If a Dental Crown Needs to Be Replaced?
Whether you’re a new or seasoned patient at Williamsburg Dental, it can be difficult to keep track of your crown alone with your limited knowledge and diagnostic resources, so make sure you squeeze in your six-month checkups and cleanings. We’ll closely watch your crown and let you know when we think it’s time to switch it out with a new, stronger one. Here are examples of scenarios in which we would recommend replacement:
- Chipped, cracked, or broken crown.
- Loose or unstable crown.
- Older than 15 years old.
- Pain or sensitivity in the tooth
- Discoloration in your crown.
What Should I Do If I Lose a Dental Crown?
Without the crown on top of it, the tooth is exposed to oral bacteria, making it especially vulnerable to reinfection. As a result, you need to address this situation as a dental emergency and reach out to us quickly. If the crown can be salvaged, we will reapply bonding material to the crown and put it back in place. If your crown needs to be replaced, we’ll order a new one for you and send you home with a temporary crown while we wait for it.
Can I Get a Tooth Extraction Instead of a Dental Crown?
If you wait long enough to treat a hurting, cracked, or otherwise weak tooth, you will likely need to have the tooth removed altogether. However, most of the time, we do everything we can to save the natural tooth and preserve the rest with a dental crown. In addition, if replacing a single missing tooth, a crown attached to an implant is much more efficient and healthy than using a traditional bridge.