Dental crowns cover only the top part of your tooth, giving it a protective shield and you a new look.
Your dental health is as important as your physical and mental health. If you have cracks or cavities in your teeth due to decay, covering them with crowns becomes inevitable. Having dental crowns fitted is not a cheap process and knowing about the causes, symptoms, and procedure will be of great help in understanding the importance of dental crowns. The dental crown cost is between $1,100 to $2,000. Crowns may last for around a decade or more. You can also remove some cost of a dental crown if your health insurance includes dental treatments. Most insurance policies include a fund for one crown placement every year.
An implant replaces the entire tooth. Generally, your dentist will advise this if your tooth has decayed and there is no other option.
Dental crowns only cover the top part of your tooth. Generally, you can get it when your tooth has damage due to an accident or decay, but the root stays intact. It gives your tooth a protective shield and an aesthetic appeal. The procedure is quick compared to the implant that requires you to make multiple visits to your dentist.
A dental implant costs more compared to a crown procedure, and both have certain benefits as well. If you prefer to keep your natural teeth, a root canal treatment and placing porcelain crowns is a good choice. But if your tooth is completely decayed and you can afford an implant, it may be a better option.Porcelain fused to a metal crown is cheaper than an implant. Given the distinct reasons for each treatment your dentist will be the person who can suggest if you need a dental crown or an artificial tooth.
Knowing the factors that decide the life of a dental crown are helpful. The life of your dental crowns depends on the factors outlined below.
Location and condition of the tooth. Whether it is on the rear or front side and its inside and root are healthy.
Care and hygiene habits, i.e. you brush your teeth twice a day or have bad habits like chewing fingernails and removing bottle caps with your teeth.
The manufacturing process, the material used and the installation process also plays a role in the durability of porcelain crowns.
Dental crowns will last long if your gums are healthy and free from any disease.
Though there is no fixed answer, a dental cap may last for 5 to 15 years or even a lifetime unless it is a temporary crown. Longevity depends on the types of dental crowns, type of material used, the quality of the treatment, and maintenance after applying the crowns. Without proper care, it may not last even for a couple of years and with enough attention on oral hygiene, it may protect your tooth for multiple decades.
It doesn’t cause pain during the procedure due to numbness, but it may cause some discomfort after a few hours when the sensation returns. The placement involves root canal drilling to remove infected parts of the teeth, which is often the cause of discomfort. Covering the tooth with a crown should prevent any infection in the future. Some patients feel tenderness which can be relieved with over-the-counter pain medicine. You can take it for a couple of days to reduce the discomfort. If you feel gum soreness after a dental crown procedure, it is because of the edges of the cap that run into the gums. It will cause swelling and inflammation for some time and it is normal. Before you go through tooth crown treatment, your dentist will explain everything, including the pain and discomfort that may happen after the placement of the dental crown. There are solutions for these post-operation effects and you don’t need to be afraid of them.
Not all policies include this treatment and you will need to check your own to confirm if a tooth crown procedure is covered.
If you think you will need to replace your temporary crown in less than a year, you might be able to purchase a policy covering this - the waiting period for minor treatments like check-ups and cleaning is a few months. Some insurance companies provide a waiver of these shorter waiting periods allowing you to get the preventive treatment required for major dental procedures.
If you are a pensioner or a concession cardholder, you may get a permanent crown covered free of cost or at a discounted rate depending on your state’s public dental health scheme. Some companies fund this expense for children who need treatments like a dental crown under the family assistance benefits.
Most people generally need a private health insurance policy to cover tooth care costs like dental crowns - you can compare insurance policies available in the market to ensure that you get it included.