Dental Crowns – DeSoto, TX
Heal & Protect Injured Teeth
Having a visibly chipped or cracked tooth can make it hard to confidently show off your pearly whites. Even worse, it can threaten your smile’s well-being. If a broken tooth doesn’t get the repair it needs, it could become infected or damaged to the point that it has to be extracted altogether. Luckily, Dr. Le and Dr. Najjar at Amaze Dental can save your tooth by placing a lifelike dental crown on top of it. Call our friendly team today to find out more about how dental crowns in DeSoto, TX could be just the thing your smile needs!
Why Choose Amaze Dental for Dental Crowns?
- Exclusively Uses Metal-Free Materials
- Digital Impression System for Precise Results
- Caring Dentists & Team Members Who Listen to Your Needs
What Is a Dental Crown?
Sometimes called “caps,” dental crowns are hollowed-out restorations designed to snugly fit over the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gumline. This section of the tooth is known as its crown, which is where dental crowns get their name. While dental crowns were traditionally made from precious metals like gold and silver, our team at Amaze Dental exclusively uses metal-free materials like porcelain. Not only are metal-free crowns often just as durable as metal ones, but they’re customized to blend right in with your smile.
We typically recommend a dental crown when a patient’s tooth is severely chipped, cracked, or otherwise broken. Additionally, a crown can be used when a tooth is so decayed that a filling alone will not be enough to repair it. Crowns can also be placed for cosmetic reasons, such as to correct a stubbornly discolored or misshapen tooth. Your dentist in DeSoto will examine your mouth and review all of your options to determine whether a dental crown is the ideal treatment for you.
The Dental Crown Process
Designing, creating, and placing a dental crown should only take two appointments over the course of a few short weeks. First, our dentists will gently reshape the structure of the tooth that will receive the crown; this ensures there is plenty of room for the restoration to fit. Next, we capture impressions of that area of your mouth. Instead of “goopy” impressions that were often messy and uncomfortable, we use digital scanning technology to make the process easier and also more accurate.
We’ll send the impressions to a trusted dental lab, where the technicians will begin crafting your crown to our exact specifications. In the meantime, we’ll place a temporary crown on top of your tooth to protect it. After a few weeks, your final crown will arrive at our office. You’ll return for your second appointment, during which we replace the temporary with your permanent crown and make any last-minute adjustments before bonding it to your tooth.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
Because dental crowns heal and protect injured teeth, they avoid the need to have the tooth extracted and replaced. As a result, dental crowns can save you money! They also provide several other benefits. For example:
- A dental crown strengthens a tooth so that you can chew easily and without discomfort.
- You no longer have to worry about feeling self-conscious about a broken tooth.
- Your crown should seamlessly match the surrounding teeth.
- The tooth’s original size and shape will be restored, ensuring that the bite comes together properly and preventing alignment issues.
- With the right care and maintenance, a dental crown can last for 10 to 15 years on average.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
Your one-of-a-kind dental crown can restore a damaged tooth or help close the gaps in your grin so you can continue to eat, speak, and smile confidently. But it’s natural to have questions before proceeding with this service, and one of the first things many patients ask is how much it usually costs.
Our team is happy to provide an estimate after your initial consultation because the answer can depend significantly on your unique circumstances. Continue reading to learn more about factors that can potentially influence the price and how our DeSoto team helps make services more affordable!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
The cost of your customized dental crown can vary based on a few factors, such as:
- Whether other procedures are needed. Some patients require a root canal to alleviate infection before placing a restoration, or are having a dental implant placed first, which increases the final invoice.
- The materials used. The different materials used to make your cap, such as porcelain or zirconia, can also affect the total rate.
- How it’s made. Crowns made with CEREC same-day technology may cost more than traditional restorations because additional technologies and materials are required.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
Dental insurance can often be a simple and effective way to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for everything from routine checkups and cleanings to more complex treatments, such as dental crowns. Many policies cover about 50% of the cost of this procedure, though it may be more likely to be included if it's deemed medically necessary.
However, there is no guarantee, and there may be additional restrictions to be aware of. For example, there may be an annual deductible amount that must be paid or a waiting period that must pass for benefits to kick in. If you’re unsure whether your insurance will cover your treatment, please feel free to ask our office staff for assistance. Our team is familiar with the process and is happy to help you maximize any available benefits.
Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
Our Amaze Dental team understands that not everyone carries dental insurance, and we don’t want your current financial situation to prevent you from receiving a beautiful, lifelike restoration to improve your smile.
If you’re worried about affording treatment, you might benefit from a flexible financial plan through one of our financial partners, CareCredit and LendingClub. If your application is approved, you can divide your total invoice into more manageable installments over a designated period that can be easier on your budget.
We also offer an in-house dental savings plan for a flat annual fee that includes preventive services and added discounts on other treatments we offer. You’re also welcome to browse our current special offers for additional potential savings!
Dental Crowns FAQs
What are Dental Crowns Made From?
Are you curious what your beautiful new restoration will be made from? Historically, dentists relied on ‘silver’ crowns made out of amalgam metals that were strong enough to withstand the pressure of daily biting and chewing. However, they also could leave enamel looking dark or dirty, or result in metal allergies or other sensitivities.
Thankfully, our team today uses more contemporary, lifelike materials, such as resilient ceramic, that can last just as long as the metallic versions when properly cared for. It’s also completely customizable and can be designed to match the size, shape, and color of your natural enamel for seamless results that boost your confidence.
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
Some patients wonder whether their tooth-shaped cap is considered a permanent solution, but the answer can depend on your definition of ‘permanent’. It’s possible for these prosthetics to wear down over time, eventually requiring repairs or replacement, so in this sense, they’re not necessarily ‘permanent’.
However, our Amaze Dental team must remove a small amount of enamel from the underlying tooth for your crown to fit correctly, which doesn’t regenerate. That means placing it involves making irreversible changes to the structure of your smile. As a result, this treatment is often considered ‘long-term’ rather than ‘permanent’.
Can Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
These prosthetics are made from a durable porcelain rather than the organic components of your enamel, so you don’t need to worry that it will develop tooth decay. With that said, if the tooth it covers is damaged or develops cavities, it could destabilize the crown or cause it to fail.
You can avoid this by implementing a twice-daily dental hygiene routine and visiting our office for standard preventive visits to strengthen your teeth and gums.
How Long Do These Restorations Usually Last?
Most people can expect to enjoy the many benefits of their dental crown for anywhere from 5 to 15+ years, though its lifespan can depend on your unique circumstances and habits. For instance, if yours is covering a molar, it might wear down faster than one covering a front tooth because it sustains more pressure from biting and chewing.
You can generally help maintain your restoration by:
- Brushing and flossing twice daily to remove plaque and bacteria that can affect the underlying tooth and cause it to fail.
- Avoiding overly hard, sticky, or crunchy foods that could harm the covering.
- Trying not to use your teeth as tools to open packages or bottles, which can break, chip, or crack them.
- Scheduling routine checkups and cleanings with our team every 6 months.