How Much Do Dental Crowns Cost?
While they’re often referred to as caps, the technical term for a dental restoration that caps the tooth and restores its structure and appearance is a dental crown. Dental crowns are most often used to protect teeth that are damaged or cracked, restore the function of teeth with excessive decay, and restore the appearance, size, and shape of teeth. In some cases, cosmetic treatments like dental veneers and direct composite bonding might be recommended, but when these relatively conservative treatments aren’t an option for you because of the extent of your tooth decay or dental damage, or if you have had a root canal procedure to remove infected tissue from a tooth, your dentist might recommend dental crowns. Sometimes, dentists can use a partial crown, either a dental overlay or a ¾ crown, to protect and restore only a portion of the tooth, while in other cases, they use a traditional complete crown that covers and encases the entire visible portion of the tooth above the gums. Conservative restoration options should always be explored before committing to a full restoration like a traditional dental crown.
Dental crowns vary in cost, depending on a vast breadth of factors. Some dental crowns use computer-aided design technologies that allow the procedure to be completed in a single office visit, while others require two visits so that the crown can be customized at a dental lab after the tooth is prepared and measured so the crown can be fitted properly. Of course, this influences cost, as do the general demands of treatment; the materials used; and the training, location, and expertise of the dentist and dental technology team. In general, dental crowns range in price from $1,000 to $3,500 and are made of either metal or metal alloys, porcelain or ceramic compounds, porcelain fused to metal, or dental composite resins. Check with your insurance provider to see if your dental crowns will be covered; if they’re not, or if you don’t have dental insurance, ask your dentist to recommend third-party lenders for financing options. If your situation is aesthetically significant, meaning your dental crown will be placed in a highly visible area of your mouth, don’t be afraid to ask prospective dentists for photographs of previous patients’ dental restorations to make sure you’re happy with their skills.
Working with an experienced, highly trained dentist and dental team can also ensure the longevity of your dental crowns. Ill-fitting crowns attract bacteria, which can lead to decay and infection in the tooth under the crown and cause the crown to fail. The dental laboratory also plays a key role in the fit and feel of the crown, adeptly engineering a functional, stable, attractive dental restoration that fits perfectly in its row. In light of more recent advances in restorative dentistry, like computer-aided design and manufacturing, some dentists are more experienced with certain technologies than others; ask about training and experience if you’re curious about some of these more cutting-edge dental crown treatments. If you have a more complicated dental restoration need, make sure you’re consulting with the appropriate dental and medical experts, including periodontists and prosthodontists; while general dentists and family dentists often place dental crowns, prosthodontists undergo years of additional training in the particularities of the jaw and the integrated web structures it contains and supports and are therefore more qualified for complex cases.
