Crowns
Restore a healthy, vibrant smile.
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that fits over your tooth to conceal any imperfections and to correct the shape, size, strength, and overall appearance of your tooth. A crown is cemented into place to fully encase the entire visible portion of the tooth that lies at and above the gum line. This affordable and fully customizable tooth replacement option comes as a saving grace for all your dental needs, giving you a youthful smile while also being easy on the pocketbook.
Most dental crowns will last about seven to ten years. However, if you maintain excellent oral hygiene and see your dentist every six months, they can last 20 years or longer!
When is a Dental Crown Needed?
The main purpose of a dental crown is to restore strength, stability, functionality, and shape to the tooth while also offering aesthetic value. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), some situations when dental crowns maybe your best option are:
- To strengthen or replace an old, broken, or failing tooth filling
- To attach bridges, cover an RTC-treated tooth,
- To protect a weak tooth (say from decay) from fracturing
- To protect an already broken tooth from further damage
- To restore the length on worn-down teeth due to grinding
- To make modifications for uneven spaces between teeth
- To cover an RTC-treated tooth or dental implant
- To cover severely stained or discolored teeth
All in all, any badly-shaped tooth or severely discolored enamel can be corrected using an inexpensive dental crown! On the contrary, if your dentist has recommended you get a dental crown and you are delaying the process, then you may be furthering the damage to your tooth.
What Are the Different Types of Materials Used for Dental Crowns?
Crowns are made from several types of materials – metal alloys, ceramics, or composite that are chosen based on your specific dental needs. Some of your options are:
Metal
If you are looking for a long-term solution to your “undesirable” teeth, metal may be the way to go. Metal alloys bond well with the tooth and can withstand the daily hard chewing, grinding, and biting forces.
Metal is innately more durable than other materials and metal crowns can be made of a variety of precious and nonprecious metals.
Porcelain Fused to Metal
If you do not like attracting too much attention to your teeth and have some cosmetic concerns, do not fret! These crowns make for great alternatives as the inside is made up of metal and the outer portion of the crown is made of porcelain.
As a result, it has a dual advantage – the metal provides superior strength, and the tooth-colored porcelain, superior aesthetics.
Ceramic
If you aren’t interested in a mouth full of metal, you can go the full-ceramic route. With the ability to blend in with your natural teeth teeth and the durability to withstand your daily needs, ceramic crowns offer a durable, aesthetic solution.
Zirconium
This relatively new material combines the strength of metal with the aesthetics of porcelain crowns. Highly translucent, zirconium crowns offer high strength, durability, and great aesthetics.
How Much Do Dental Crowns Cost?
The price of dental crowns varies depending on the material used and the preparation required prior to the placement. For example, all-ceramic crowns are generally costlier than metal ones, summing up to $1,300 in the United States. Additionally, zirconium crowns can cost up to $2,500.
Through our network of providers, we offer crowns for between $120 USD and 700 USD. Most of our patients opt for crowns that cost between $350 and $500 USD.
| CROWN COST USA | |
|---|---|
| $1,300+ | Average Cost USA |
| CROWN COST LOS ALGODONES, MEXICO | |
| $120-600 | Sani Dental Group Alamo Clinic |
| $120-600 | Sani Dental Group Platinum |
| CROWN COST TIJUANA, MEXICO | |
| $260-475 | Dental Brush |
| $250-700 | Evidentall |
| $250-550 | Nakeji Dental Group |
| CROWN COST PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO | |
| $120-600 | Sani Dental Group Cancun Riviera |
| CROWN COST SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA | |
| $350 | OG Center |
What is the Process for Getting a Dental Crown?
It usually takes two dental visits to complete the treatment for a dental crown. After an extensive examination, a dentists will first ensure that the tooth is capable of holding a dental crown.
When a crown is placed, these steps are involved:
- The dentist prepares the tooth by removing any decay or damage and also part of the outer enamel from the teeth to ensure that the crown fits. If additional tooth structure is needed for support, the dentist may build up the core of the tooth.
- An impression is made to provide an exact replica model for the crown either using a mold or by digitally scanning the tooth.
- As the crown is being prepared in the dental lab, the patient may get a temporary crown to make do during their daily activities. Dental clinics with in house labs can offer turnaround times in hours or days, while other clinics may require a week or more.
- Skilled lab technicians customize the final crown according to specifications and it is delivered and seated onto the tooth by a dentist using dental cement.
What if I Need to Replace Multiple Teeth?
For multiple missing or damaged teeth, dental professionals allocate some of these special dental prostheses:
Bridges
A bridge is exactly what it sounds like – a bridge over the space left by a missing tooth. The bridge is cemented onto natural teeth or implants surrounding the space. These teeth are referred to as abutments and serve as an anchor for the bridge to stabilize. A replacement tooth, called a pontic is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments. Bridges make for brilliant alternatives to help strengthen the teeth for your everyday needs.
Dental Implants
In some instances, dental implants may be employed to support the weight of multiple missing teeth. By placing a few dental implants in strategic areas in the mouth, the dental implant can successfully receive a bridge or denture that is loaded with all the artificial teeth.
Before and After
Additional Resources
Sources
Howell, Maria Lopez. “Crowns.” Mouth Healthy TM, American Dental Association, https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/c/crowns.
This article is intended for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be used as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you have surrounding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it as a result of anything you read on this Site.
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