Dental Crowns In Clearwater, FL
Dental Crowns
The best way to protect your natural teeth is with proper oral dental hygiene habits. However, sometimes even when you’re vigilant with your oral care, teeth can become damaged or decayed for a variety of reasons.
Cosmetic and restorative procedures can resolve these issues. One of the most popular cosmetic restorative options is dental crowns. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cover that is placed on a tooth to restore its appearance and functionality.
This is just one of the many procedures offered at Baker Cosmetic & Family Dentistry in Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Baker will work with you to create a treatment plan that will resolve your dental concerns and restore your confidence.
Why Choose Baker Cosmetic & Family Dentistry In Clearwater, FL For Dental Crowns
Dr. Baker has the skills and expertise to treat a variety of dental concerns including general dentistry as well as cosmetic and restorative procedures. He believes that his patients are more than just a number, therefore he strives to build relationships. He will work with you to make sure that you understand your condition and the recommended treatments before moving forward with them. Dr. Baker offers quality, compassionate care.
Benefits of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns offer a variety of benefits including:
- Restores damaged/broken teeth
- Improves appearance
- Hides results of bruxism (clenching/grinding)
- Strengthens tooth after root canal treatment
- Protects tooth after a large filling
- Long-lasting
- Simple procedure
Average Cost Of Dental Crowns In Clearwater
On average, a dental crown in Clearwater, Florida ranges from $1,100 to $1,300, depending on several factors. Some of the factors used to determine the cost include:
- The material crown is made from
- Experience/expertise of the dentist
- Location of the clinic
- Additional procedures required to prepare the tooth
- Type of crown (traditional or same-day)
If a temporary crown is needed, you can expect to add $450 to $500 to the procedure.
Who is the Right Candidate for Dental Crowns?
- The overall health of the tooth- Typically, dental crowns are used to restore teeth that have been damaged by decay, injury, or other issues. However, if the tooth is severely damaged/decayed, there may not be enough remaining structure to support a dental crown.
- Oral hygiene habits of the patient- If a patient has poor oral hygiene habits or chronic gum disease, they may not qualify for this procedure. To ensure the longevity of the restoration, good oral hygiene is critical.
The best way to know for sure if you are a candidate for this treatment is to schedule a consultation. During this visit, Dr. Baker will perform a thorough examination including X-rays and other necessary imaging. In addition, he will discuss your oral and overall health history as well as your oral hygiene and lifestyle habits. This will help to determine your eligibility for the procedure as well as minimize any potential risks/complications.
Dental Crowns Procedure
Typically, two appointments are required for dental crown placement- though in some cases, same-day crowns are an option. The procedure usually goes like this:
First Appointment
Here’s what you can expect during your first appointment:
Tooth Prep
To prepare your tooth for a dental crown, a portion of the enamel will need to be removed. This will create space for your crown and provide a surface for the dental cement to adhere to which will ensure that the crown will remain in place once it is bonded to the tooth. Depending on the condition of the tooth, the dentist may use composite resin to build up certain portions of the tooth. The primary goal of this step is to create a stable foundation for your dental crown.
Impressions
After the tooth is prepared, impressions will be taken of the teeth. Depending on the technology available, the dentist may do a digital impression with a handheld scanner or may have you bite down on a putty-like material. These impressions will be sent to an offsite dental lab or put into the computer software for the fabrication of your custom dental crown.
Temporary Crown Placement
If you are getting a same-day dental crown, the dental crown will be fabricated in the office, so there is no need for this step. However, if your dental crown is being fabricated in an off-site lab, it will take 2 to 3 weeks for it to be sent back to the office. Therefore, the dentist will place a temporary crown on the tooth to protect it. Typically, a temporary crown is made of acrylic or composite resin.
Second Appointment
Once the crown is ready, it will be sent back to the office and your crown placement will be scheduled. During this visit:
- The temporary crown will be removed
- The tooth will be thoroughly cleaned
- The shape, fit, and color of your new crown will be checked
- The new crown will be bonded to your tooth with permanent dental cement
Once the crown is placed, it should last at least 5 years and up to 15 or more with proper oral hygiene habits.
Schedule Your Dental Crown Consultation With Dr. Baker Today
If you have one or more teeth that are severely damaged/decayed, schedule your consultation with Dr. Baker at Baker Cosmetic & Family Dentistry. Dr. Baker and the team will determine the extent of your dental issues and create a treatment plan that will get your smile back.
A dental crown can be costly. The good news is that since it does offer some restorative benefits, dental insurance often covers a portion of treatment. Our office staff will work with your dental insurance provider to determine your coverage and provide you with a quote before any work is completed.
Dental Crowns FAQs
If you have any questions or concerns about dental crowns or any other procedures offered at Baker Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, please let us know. We will be happy to work with you to find the answers that you need.
While dental crowns can be expensive, they are also long-lasting. Therefore, most patients would agree that they are well worth the investment- especially if you are willing to put in the effort to take proper care of them.
There are several reasons that dentists charge so much for dental crowns including:
- While the procedure can be performed by a general dentist, some specialized training is required
- The procedure takes some time
- The materials used to fabricate the crown can be expensive
The cost of a dental crown is about the same as the cost of a root canal, depending on the affected tooth. However, in most cases, the two are done together- a dental crown is often used to protect a tooth that has been treated with root canal therapy.
If you have a tooth that is damaged/decayed, depending on the severity of the damage, you may have other options. If the damage/decay is mild, you may be able to have a dental filling or an inlay/onlay. On the other hand, if the damage is extensive, you may need to have an extraction and will need to consider tooth restoration options.
A dental crown can be used to restore both appearance and functionality and is usually covered by dental insurance. Other options such as dental veneers and dental bonding simply restore appearance, which means they are typically not covered by dental insurance.
Research shows that dental crowns have a fairly high success rate over 10 years. In some cases, dental crowns can last up to 20 years with proper care and maintenance, which includes proper oral hygiene habits, visiting the dentist every 6 months, avoiding using teeth as tools, not chewing on non-food items, using a mouthguard for sports, using a nightguard if you are prone to bruxism, and more.
The highest quality dental crown is one made of zirconia, which is a type of ceramic. This option is also one of the most expensive and dental insurance may or may not cover the cost of this type of crown. However, porcelain has the same appearance- and porcelain fused to metal has a similar appearance paired with the strength of metal.
