If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to improve your smile and enhance your oral function, you may want to give dental crowns in Wilson a try. Dental crowns are artificial tooth caps that help strengthen weakened teeth while at the same time improving their appearance.
These crowns come in various types. You may wonder which kind of crown suits you best and how much it costs. Your dentist can answer these questions during your consultation but doing your research before your appointment doesn’t hurt.
Dental Crown Types and Costs
What Are Dental Crowns?
Your teeth are strong, but they can get damaged because of injuries, tooth decay, or wear and tear. Damaged teeth will eventually lose their usual size and shape. These physical alterations can compromise their ability to function efficiently, which is why dentists recommend you reinforce them with dental crowns.
A dental crown is an artificial tooth cap that your dentist will place over an affected tooth to restore its look, strength, size, shape, and function. Dental crowns only cover the visible part of your teeth.
Do You Need Dental Crowns?
There are plenty of tooth restoration options available, so you might wonder why dental crowns? Why can’t you get a filling or an only or inlay instead? Your dentist will only suggest a dental crown after thoroughly assessing your tooth during your initial visit. Some of the cases that require dental crowns are the following:
- A tooth that has significantly weakened after severe tooth decay
- Conceal an implant
- Replace a filling
- Damaged and cracked tooth
- Cover a tooth following a root canal therapy
- To correct a misaligned bite
- Cover stubborn stains
- Improve shape and size of a tooth
What Are the Different Types of Dental Crowns?
Gold Crowns
Gold crowns are an amalgamation of copper and other metals like chromium or nickel. Two of the major advantages of gold crowns are their impressive strength and unparalleled durability. It’s the crown of choice for patients’ needing back restorations. However, today, gold crowns are not as popular because of their glaring color.
Pros
- Strong
- Last a long time
- Only a small portion of your natural tooth is removed
- Wear and tear is slow
- Best for back teeth
Cons
- Do not resemble natural teeth in terms of aesthetics
- Some people may develop allergic reactions to gold alloy crowns
All Porcelain Crowns
The most popular dental crowns today are all-porcelain crowns. These crowns are completely made out of porcelain.
Pros
- Porcelain offers a natural look as it resembles the color and shape of your surrounding teeth
- The ideal option for front teeth restorations
- Porcelain is biocompatible and is toxic-free
Cons
- Porcelain crowns do not share the same strength as metal crowns, and they are not as durable either
- People who grind their teeth are not advised to get porcelain crowns as they can chip and break
- More costly compared to metal crowns
Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal Crowns
Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns are popularly used in the dental industry because they offer strength and aesthetic appeal.
Pros
- Highly durable crowns
- Resemble the physical features of natural teeth
- These crowns have been around for more than five decades
- Often more inexpensive compared to porcelain crowns
Cons
- The metal component of these crowns may appear grayish in your gum line
- This will not give you the aesthetics that you can get from all-porcelain crowns
- Not ideal for people who grind or clench their teeth as they prematurely wear down
Zirconia Crowns
Zirconia will give you the best of both worlds when it comes to aesthetics and strength, making them one of the top-most in-demand crowns today.
Pros
- Offer impressive aesthetics
- Give you a beautiful, natural-looking smile
- Strong and durable
- Their chances of breaking and chipping are low
- The process will save you time since the crowns are made in the clinic and not in a dental lab
- They don’t wear down fast because of their strength Biocompatible and metal-free
Cons
- Their strength can also put them at a disadvantage as they can cause the teeth they bite into to wear down fast
- They can be hard to adjust
How Much Do Dental Crowns Cost?
The cost of crowns varies depending on many factors, such as your insurance coverage, the fees charged by your chosen dentist, and if there are added procedures needed for the treatment.
Some insurances cover much of your crowns but again, that will depend on your insurance type and your specific case. Crowns requested for cosmetic purposes may not be covered.
Have You Decided Which Dental Crown in Wilson You’ll Get?
If you’re still undecided, we can help you. At Tyron Family Dentistry, we take pride in our years of experience in the industry. We have helped hundreds of patients achieve the smile of their dreams with our affordable restorative and cosmetic dental treatments. Call us today for an appointment.
