Dental Crowns – Midlothian, TX
Renew the Strength and Structure of Damaged Teeth
Dental crowns are among the most common and most helpful dental restorations. They have helped generations of patients to preserve damaged teeth and regain full chewing function. Today, crowns are as necessary as ever, but they have evolved. They are more beautiful, more convenient, and more biocompatible than the crowns of the past. On this page, you will learn more about dental crowns, why they are sometimes necessary, and what you can expect from this restorative procedure.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a custom-designed, tooth-shaped cap that gets placed over the entire visible portion of a tooth (everything above the gumline). Its purpose is to restore the structure and strength of a damaged tooth. Used as part of a bridge or with a dental implant, dental crowns can even help to replace missing teeth altogether.
Do You Need a New Dental Crown?
Here are some indicators that mean you might need a new dental crown:
- You have an old metal crown that you would like to get replaced with something more aesthetically pleasing, or you have an old porcelain crown that has suffered damage
- One of your teeth is misshapen
- You recently underwent root canal therapy
- Decay in a tooth has reached the point where a filling would no longer be an adequate way to treat it
- One or more teeth has become severely worn down due to bruxism or other factors
- You have cracked tooth syndrome
When you visit us for your restorative consultation, your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth and determine whether a crown is a suitable treatment for your situation.
The Dental Crown Process
The first step in the dental crown process is tooth preparation. Your dentist may remove a portion of enamel from your tooth so that it will fit well beneath your restoration. We take great care to ensure that patients are comfortable during this phase of the treatment. Once your tooth is ready, we’ll take detailed impressions of it and the surrounding dentition.
At other dental offices, at this point you would be given a temporary restoration to protect your tooth while a laboratory fabricated your permanent crown. At Legacy Dentistry, things work a little differently. We have the technology in our office to create your permanent porcelain crown right away. That means you will not have to put up with hassle of wearing a temporary crown or of making a second visit to our office to have your crown placed.
Do you believe you need a dental crown, or would do you have questions about how the treatment works? Reach out to us today. We will be happy to talk with you!
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
There is no need to worry about the out-of-pocket expenses you may incur when receiving a dental crown. Preparing for this type of treatment, we understand, can be a bit unnerving, especially if you don’t know what to expect in terms of cost. The good news is that understanding the cost of dental crowns in Midlothian can only be determined after we meet with you. After a thorough evaluation, we will not only build out your treatment plan, but we’ll also indicate how much your expected price tag will be with and without insurance.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
The status of your oral health and the type of crown you receive will make up the largest components of your cost estimate. When meeting with our Legacy Dentistry team, we will visually examine the affected tooth as well as use digital imaging to obtain an all-encompassing view. Based on the severity of the damage or decay as well as whether you require additional treatment (i.e., root canal treatment, dental implants, etc.), we will begin to craft your cost estimate.
Also included in this price breakdown will be the materials used to create your crown. At Legacy Dentistry, we use tooth-colored options to maintain a beautiful, natural-looking appearance.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
Every dental insurance plan is different, so while most do offer some form of partial coverage, this is not always the case. Reviewing the details of your policy or asking a member of our team for help can ensure you do not miss out on valuable savings when seeking restorative care.
Generally, dental insurance companies will provide up to 50% coverage for dental crowns because they are considered a major restorative treatment option. You must meet your deductible first, though, and have funds remaining as part of your annual maximum, as this will determine how much your insurance will pay.
Other Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
Legacy Dentistry recognizes that not all patients have private dental insurance. If you are someone who is not enrolled with a plan independently or through your employer, do not fret. We provide alternative solutions that make it easy to get the restorative treatment you need without requiring you to empty your wallet or savings. We offer:
- Legacy Dentistry Dental Savings Plan – This affordable payment option allows you to access high-quality dental care for a lower price. You can avoid the red tape commonly associated with dental insurance (i.e., deductibles, premiums, etc.) and prepare to take optimal care of your oral health year-round with preventive services and discounts on all other treatment options.
- Flexible Financing – Partnering with CareCredit, Lending Club, and Green Sky makes it easy for our office to provide you with greater options when it comes to paying for treatment. These third-party companies offer low- to no-interest plans at varying lengths, so you can choose the right one for your budget and timeframe.
Dental Crowns FAQs
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
Though they are technically not permanent, your new dental crown is definitely a long-term solution. On average, a crown can protect your tooth from between five and 15 years.
Be aware that once your dentist has reshaped your tooth for a crown, that procedure is irreversible, as tooth enamel cannot grow back. Thus, that tooth will always need a crown for protection going forward.
Crowns were designed to protect the underlying tooth from additional damage, helping them survive for much longer than they likely would have otherwise.
You can ensure that your crown remains in great shape for years to come by taking excellent care of it through daily oral hygiene, regular dental check-ups and cleanings, and wearing a mouthguard or bite guard if necessary.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
While technically its impossible for a dental crown itself to develop cavities, the tooth underneath it still can. In fact, a crowned tooth has about the same risk of decay as an uncrowned tooth. Poor oral hygiene makes it possible for bacteria and plaque to form around the gumline where the tooth meets the crown. They can then travel underneath the crown, wreaking havoc on the underlying tooth.
You can prevent cavities from developing on crowned teeth in the same way you’d prevent them in any other tooth: with daily brushing and flossing, regular dental check-ups and cleanings, and eating a healthy diet.
Can Dental Crowns Be Whitened?
No matter the material your dental crown is made of it cannot be whitened like your real teeth can. That’s because tooth enamel has tiny pores in it, which bleaching gels can enter to break apart stains. Dental restorations like crowns do not have these same pores, and therefore your crown should always remain the same color.
Metal-free dental crowns are designed to blend in seamlessly with your surrounding teeth. To minimize the risk of your natural teeth becoming discolored and making your crown stand out, ask your dentist about getting teeth whitening prior to having your crown placed. This way, your crown will be matched to the ideal shade of your teeth from the start.
Are Dental Crowns Covered by Insurance?
The short answer to this question is yes, but not always, and not fully. Every dental insurance plan is different, but most consider dental crowns to be a major procedure, so they’re often eligible for coverage at 50 percent after you’ve paid your deductible and before you’ve exceeded your annual maximum.
Dental insurance will typically only cover a crown if it is considered medically necessary, such as to repair a tooth with decay or damage. If you’re getting one solely for cosmetic reasons, it may not qualify for insurance coverage.
Even without dental insurance, Legacy Dentistry accepts other financing options to make your crown more affordable.
More to Explore
I Need a Dental Checkup & Cleaning I am Looking for a Dentist for My Child I am Worried About Bleeding Gums I am in Pain or Had an Accident Dentists Make Me Anxious/Nervous/Afraid I Have a Cavity or Broken Tooth I am Missing One or More Teeth I Want to Improve My Smile I Want to Straighten My Smile View Our Services