Dental Crown Questions

If your tooth requires a dental crown, you may have some questions in regard to what it is, how much it costs, and how long it takes. Below are some frequently asked questions.

What are the three types of dental crowns?

What is the difference between the three types of crowns?

What is the crown application procedure like?

What is a dental crown?

A dental crown is a restorative device which covers a tooth in order to strengthen a decayed tooth, repair a broken tooth or improve the cosmetic appearance of a tooth.

A crown completely covers the visible area of a tooth, creating a brand new outer surface. A filling, by contrast, covers only a portion of a tooth.

What are the three types of dental crowns?

Resin and Porcelain Crowns
This type of crown has the nicest appearance and is the most common. Made from pure ceramic, or a new reinforced composite resin, it is almost indistinguishable from natural teeth. Resin and porcelain crowns are metal-free, and are resistant, but capable of chipping if not properly taken care of.
Gold Crowns
Gold crowns, because they are made of gold, are appropriate when appearance is not a priority. The gold metal is extremely workable, which makes gold crowns a more precise fit than any other type. Gold crowns will not chip in any way.
Porcelain Fused-to-Metal Crowns
Porcelain fused-to-metal crowns are both durable and have a very natural appearance. However, because they have a metal substructure, they require an opaque below the porcelain.Occasionally a darker line will be visible at the edge of the crown, near the gum as the gum-line recedes with age.

What is the difference between the three types of crowns?

Gold crowns are the strongest, and the simplest to install. Unfortunately, they are not as aesthetically pleasing as porcelain crowns. For most people, this is a serious cosmetic drawback, and the reason why gold crowns are usually used only on the back teeth. Less of the existing tooth must be removed for a gold crown.

Porcelain and resin crowns are by far the most natural-looking crowns available, often indistinguishable from real teeth. They are harder to fit into the gum line, and the porcelain is more susceptible to chipping, however a trained cosmetic dentist will be able to complete this procedure easily and teach you how to care for your crowns. Relatively more of the existing tooth is removed for a porcelain crown, but creates a dazzling smile as a result.

Porcelain fused-to-metal crowns have a natural appearance, and are less susceptible to damage than strictly porcelain crowns, but a darker, metal line may become more visible around the gum line as the gums recede with age.

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What is the crown application procedure like?

There are typically three steps to applying a dental crown over two appointments.

In the first part of the procedure, a mold is taken of the tooth which will be crowned. The mold is sent to a laboratory, and used to create the crown. Also, before a crown can be placed, a filling must be put in place, to stabilize the tooth structure from any further decay.
A temporary crown will placed in your mouth in the interim period between the first and second appointment, which is usually about two weeks.
At the second appointment, Dr. Kissinger-Blakeley or Dr. Braasch will determine the color of the cement which will later be used to affix your permanent crown. The laboratory-created crown is then bonded to the tooth or teeth. First, Dr. Kissinger-Blakeley or Dr. Braasch will use either water or glycerin to place the crown onto the teeth. This non-permanent attachment is to check the crown’s fit, shade, and color. The color of the crown can be adjusted based upon the shade of dental cement used, but cannot be altered after the crown is cemented. Once the correct color is determined, the crown is ready to be attached permanently with dental cement. The cement is sandwiched between the crown and the tooth, and then a special light beam is applied. This light initiates the release of a catalyst, which hardens the cement and permanently affixes the crown.

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How much do crowns cost?

They average between $600 to $1300 each. Porcelain crowns are more expensive, because placing them is more time consuming. Generally, the more time spent in the office, the higher the cost. Also, while insurance may cover some of the costs, typically it does not cover them all. We will discuss all of your options and review financing information if necessary.

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What can I expect?

Ceramic crowns are virtually indistinguishable from real teeth. They require regular brushing and flossing, just like real teeth. Also, anything that can chip a real teeth can potentially also chip a ceramic crown.

If you have gold crowns (usually in the back of your mouth) you can expect a high degree of durability. Gold is stronger than ceramic crowns. Gold is even stronger than natural teeth.

If you have porcelain fused-to-metal crowns, you can expect basically the same durability as ceramic crowns. However, over time, a slight, metal line may become visible between your crown and gum line. This is because gums tend to recede as you age.

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If you have questions about a dental crown, contact us at 303-779-2797 to schedule your free consultation.