Do you have a tooth that's been significantly affected by damage or decay? The solution you're looking for is found in restorative dentistry, designed to bring back your confident smile. A dental crown is an excellent remedy for your compromised tooth. At Healthy Smiles Dental Care in Muskegon, we specialize in custom-shaded restorations that combine a lifelike appearance with enduring strength. If you’d like to learn more about this service, contact our team today to schedule a consultation and kickstart your smile's revival journey!
What Is a Dental Crown?
Think of a dental crown as a protective cap for a weakened tooth – it shields and envelops the tooth, strengthening it. Dentists use these crowns to restore not only the compromised structure of the tooth, but also its functionality and appearance.
A dental crown is a great choice for patients facing any of the following scenarios:
A tooth significantly damaged by decay, needing reinforcement to support existing fillings
A fractured tooth that demands enhanced stability and strength
Following a root canal procedure, a crown ensures complete restoration
Anchoring a dental bridge securely in its place
When tooth loss has occurred, and dental implants are required for treatment
The Process of Getting a Dental Crown
Getting a dental crown involves multiple visits to our office.
During your initial appointment, you'll meet with one of our dentists to determine whether or not a dental crown is the best solution for your unique situation. This consultation will cover your smile goals, oral health requirements, medical history, and more. This information will guide our team in choosing the most suitable type of crown, if needed. Additionally, we'll assess if any preventive work is necessary prior to the procedure.
If we move forward with treatment, the consultation may also serve as a preparatory visit. Here, our team will prepare your tooth by removing a small amount of enamel. This step ensures that the crown sits seamlessly alongside your surrounding teeth. Following this, we'll create an impression to craft your final prosthetic. During the interim period while your permanent crown is being made, you'll wear a temporary crown for a few weeks.
The final step occurs during your last appointment, when the crown is ready for placement. At this time, the completed restoration will be attached to your tooth. Following the procedure, our team will provide detailed instructions on caring for your newly restored smile.
Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
At Healthy Smiles Dental Care, opting for dental crowns comes with several benefits. Some of the most prevalent ones are as follows:
Tooth Preservation – Dental crowns provide a protective barrier for damaged teeth, reducing the likelihood of requiring more invasive treatments down the line, such as root canal therapy or tooth extraction.
Enhanced Aesthetics – Crowns seamlessly restore your smile's appearance, effectively concealing any dental imperfections while maintaining a natural look.
Improved Chewing – By covering fractured or decayed portions of a tooth, a crown enhances your oral comfort and chewing efficiency.
Durability – With proper care, a well-maintained crown can last for 15 years or even longer, providing lasting results and peace of mind.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are one of the most versatile dental treatments that there is, capable of dealing with decay, damage, and a wide variety of cosmetic issues. However, that versatility can sometime make it difficult to price out the procedure given the many variables at play.
For that reason, we’ll spend plenty of time talking to you about pricing before you get your dental crown. Until then, here’s what you should know about the cost of the procedure.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
The price of dental crowns can be a little bit difficult to talk about without getting into specific due to the many variables in how they’re made. First of all, you’ll usually have to price out the treatments that are necessary beforehand, like a root canal.
Then there’s the material you choose, which depends on your particular needs. Whether you pick gold, silver, or some kind of ceramic will make a massive difference in what your restoration costs.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are used often to deal with all kinds of damage to the tooth, and if they’re deemed to be medically necessary, dental insurance will usually cover a percentage of the cost. In most cases you can expect your dental plan to pay for around 50% of treatment, though every plan is different.
Other Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
Even if you don’t have insurance, finances don’t have to prevent you from getting the care that you need.
For one, we have a dental savings plan where, for a flat monthly fee, you can get substantial discounts on services that you receive from us. We also offer financing services for our patients, which allows you to split the cost of dental care into affordable payments.
Even if the financials are a little bit concerning to you, give us a call and we’ll talk with you about how best to get high-quality dental care.
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
Is It a Dental Emergency If Your Crown Falls Off?
What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Get a Dental Crown?
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
Eventually, you’ll need to replace your dental crown, so it won’t be considered a permanent solution for your tooth. However, the results are still durable and can protect your compromised tooth for well over a decade or more depending on how well you take care of your restoration. Though the treatment won’t be permanent, it will be irreversible in that we’ll need to alter your tooth enamel to make room for your crown, which will not be able to regenerate on its own. Once we’ve prepared your tooth for the restoration, it will need to be covered with a restoration at all times. Fortunately, you can help make the most of your dental crown by simply practicing great oral hygiene every day and seeing your dentist for checkups and cleanings every six months.
Is It a Dental Emergency If Your Crown Falls Off?
Since you’ll end up needing to replace your dental crown later on, you shouldn’t be too worried if yours falls off. Even though this might not be considered a dental emergency, you’ll still need to visit our team for help as soon as possible. Not only can your tooth have jagged edges that might accidentally injure the soft oral tissues, but it can also be exposed to bacteria and be at risk of further damage or infection. Make sure to put dental wax over sharp edges, or even sugar-free gum to keep the rest of your mouth protected while you wait to visit your dentist. Remember to refrain from chewing on that side of your mouth and bring your dental crown with you to the office. If it’s still in good condition, we may be able to recement it.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Get a Dental Crown?
In many cases, we’ll only recommend that you get a dental crown if it’s the most viable solution for protecting your tooth, especially since altering the enamel is a permanent step. If your dentist has suggested it, then you won’t want to hold off on the procedure for too long. This is because the tooth will be susceptible to more damage, debris, and harmful germs, which can eventually lead to complications that might require treatments such as a root canal or even tooth extraction. To protect and preserve your natural tooth, it’s best to receive your dental crown sooner rather than later once your dentist recommends one.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
A dental crown itself will not decay or form cavities, but this doesn’t mean the underlying natural tooth is completely immune to this. Without good oral hygiene, food particles and bacteria can begin to accumulate near the base of the crown, increasing the risk of cavities or infection. That’s why you’ll want to ensure you brush twice daily, floss once a day (or after meals), and rinse with mouthwash regularly to avoid this complication altogether.
