Dental Crowns – Crown Point, IN
Reliable, Long-Lasting Solution for Decayed or Damaged Teeth
Dental Crowns
By visiting your dentist for regular dental checkups and cleanings, you should be able to avoid many oral health complications that could arise. However, sometimes issues can occur even if you take care of your smile daily, such as dental decay or accidental injury. In either case, Dr. Ornelas can help renew mild or moderately compromised teeth with natural-looking and long-lasting dental crowns in Crown Point. These restorations can strengthen and improve the structure of pearly whites, allowing you to regain a more comfortable bite in the long run. Keep reading to learn more about this treatment or reach out to us if you want to schedule a consultation.
Why Choose Ornelas Family Dentistry for Dental Crowns?
- Only The Best Materials, Including BruxZir® Solid Zirconia, E-Max, Ceramics & More
- Partners With Trustworthy Dental Laboratories
- Durable & Natural-Looking Restorative Results
What is a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns are highly versatile and attractive restorations that are designed to cover the remaining structure of a single tooth. This approach has two distinct benefits – not only is the original tooth better preserved, but its original shape, strength, and aesthetic appearance is replenished. Dr. Ornelas may recommend new, customized crowns in the following cases:
- When a tooth is badly decayed
- When a tooth is cracked/fractured
- When a tooth is weakened and can potentially break in the future
- When a tooth has a significant cosmetic imperfection
The Dental Crown Process
In most cases, the design and creation of a brand-new crown will take two appointments. After adjusting the tooth’s shape by removing some of the enamel to make space for the restoration. Dr. Ornelas will then capture impressions of your smile and send them to a trusted dental laboratory while also fitting patients with a temporary crown in the interim for protection. Once our Crown Point dental office receives the new, permanent crown, you’ll return for the final placement. We will also make any minor adjustments to ensure the most successful and stable fit possible.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
With these lifelike and durable dental caps, you can expect to enjoy a wide range of advantages with metal-free crowns, including:
- Tooth-colored materials
- Increased comfort
- Improved bite
- Completely customized restoration(s)
- Prevention of future damage
- Boosts confidence
- Solution that lasts a decade or more with proper care
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
If you have a tooth that is decayed, broken, or otherwise damaged, a dental crown may be the necessary solution to prevent additional harm. However, many patients worry about the cost of their upcoming treatment. During your consultation, we will discuss the estimated cost of your treatment in detail. Until then, here are some things to take into consideration.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
There are various factors that can contribute to the cost of your dental crown. Here are the main ones that we take into consideration.
- Damage: If your tooth is significantly damaged, you might need another treatment in addition to your dental crown to repair it. For instance, you may need root canal treatment before having a dental crown placed. The cost of all necessary treatments should be considered.
- Materials: Dental crowns can be crafted from various materials, each with their own price point. We craft our dental crowns from BruxZir® Solid Zirconia, E-Max, and ceramics.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
When medically necessary, dental crowns usually receive partial coverage from insurance providers. Every plan is a little bit different, but the majority of providers consider dental crowns to be a “major restorative procedure.” This means that they are usually covered at 50% after your annual deductible has been met. It is best to check with your insurance provider beforehand so that you don’t run into any surprises. We are also happy to help you with this process.
Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, this doesn’t mean that you will be left completely on your own. By opting for our in-house dental savings plan, you can save 15% on restorative procedures completed at our practice. We are also happy to accept payments through CareCredit – a third-party financing company that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. If you need help applying or have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us!
Dental Crown FAQs
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
Dental crowns are not technically permanent, but they are considered to be a long-term solution. They can protect your tooth for anywhere between 5 to 15 years. To make room for the crown, your dentist needs to remove some of your protective enamel, and this is irreversible. The prepared tooth will always need to have a crown to stay protected going forward. With that being said, crowns can protect underlying teeth from additional damage, therefore helping the tooth to survive for much longer than it would have otherwise.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
A crown itself can't develop cavities, but the underlying tooth 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 and cause problems for the underlying tooth. You can prevent cavities in the crowned tooth the same way you would in any other tooth. Brush, floss, and see your dentist for regular checkups.
Does It Hurt to Get a Dental Crown?
Your dentist will numb the tooth that they will be working on when you get a crown, so you shouldn’t feel any discomfort. However, your tooth will likely feel sensitive for a few days afterward, especially if you have also undergone a root canal. This can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers, but be sure to give your dentist a call if discomfort worsens.
Do Dental Crowns Feel Natural?
Within a few days of receiving your permanent crown, it should begin to feel more natural. Crowns are made from durable materials that can stand up to everyday chewing and biting forces just as easily as your natural teeth, so eating shouldn’t feel strange. Your dentist reshaped your tooth so that the crown fits comfortably within your mouth. Additionally, each crown is customized based on impressions taken of the tooth. Your crown should not feel awkward or even noticeable.
How Do You Know When a Dental Crown Needs to Be Replaced?
Typically, dental crowns last anywhere from 5-15 years. At your biannual checkups, our dentist in Crown Point will examine the condition of yours, ensuring it isn’t chipped, cracked, or damaged in any other way. Between visits, it’s important to keep an eye out for warning signs that yours needs to be replaced, including pain when biting down, a noticeably worse appearance, or instability.
What Can I Eat with a Temporary Crown?
To prevent your temporary dental crown from coming loose or falling out, we recommend taking certain precautions, like not chewing on that side of your mouth. We also recommend sticking to extremely soft foods since they don’t require much chewing power, like cottage cheese, plain yogurt, scrambled eggs, and applesauce.
Tip: The area surrounding your dental crown may feel a bit sore and sensitive following your visit, so check the temperature of your food before you eat it!
Is It a Dental Emergency If Your Crown Falls Off?
Without your dental crown securely in place, your tooth is vulnerable to damage. So, we definitely do not recommend taking the “wait and see” approach. Instead, call us so we can learn more about your situation, including the symptoms you’re experiencing. Then, we can schedule an appointment for you, ideally the same day you call.
If that isn’t possible for one reason or another, don’t worry – it isn’t as urgent as other dental injuries, like a knocked-out tooth. Just do your best to protect your restoration (and your tooth!), and get to our office as soon as you can so we can re-cement it back in place or have a new one made.
Can Dental Crowns Be Whitened?
Dental crowns look like the real thing, but they are artificial. As a result, they don’t respond to whitening treatments, even the powerful ones we offer at our office. Plus, doing so can actually weaken the bonding material holding your restoration in place.
In the process of making your dental crown, we will work with you to determine which shade is best. If there comes a time in the following years when you are no longer happy with it, let us know! Once we know more about your smile goals, we can determine if it needs to be replaced.
Tip: Dental crowns are crafted from stain-resistant materials, but it’s still a good idea to do what you can to prevent discoloration from surfacing. That’s why we encourage our patients to cut back on dark-colored sauces, like BBQ sauce, use a straw when drinking coffee, and break bad habits, like smoking.