For a long time, dental crowns have been a reliable procedure to restore function and the appearance of damaged teeth. These tooth-shaped caps assist in improving the smile while retaining a natural look. In addition, dental crowns come in handy in covering dental fillings, especially if you have large cavities affecting nearly the whole tooth. When your dentist suggests that you require a dental crown, you could wonder about the cost of dental crowns and the best dental crown for you. You should work with your dentist to choose dental crowns/caps tailored to your specific requirements and preferences.

Determining Your Need For A Crown

Before choosing the ideal dental crowns that suit your budget, you must first ascertain if you require a crown, an onlay, an inlay, or just a filling. At your first visit to the dentist, and after a thorough examination, the dentist will evaluate your particular case and advise you on possible remedies. Typically, you could require dental crowns for several reasons. They include:

  • For aesthetics, to help you achieve a more beautiful smile by leveling the size, shape, and color of your teeth.
  • Support a weakened tooth after severe cavity or decay
  • To align your bite
  • To cover an implant
  • A tooth with a root canal, particularly posterior teeth, could require a dental crown.
  • To replace a large filling.
  • To cover a natural tooth that is cracked or damaged.

You must ensure that your dental crown is done skillfully and professionally because it is a long-lasting restorative treatment. You will have the crown in your mouth for many years. When considering the available crowns and their costs, you should avoid visiting only the least expensive dentist without scrutinizing your other options. Consider all the factors before making your decision. It would be better for you to spend more and ensure excellent and durable results.

If you settle for the cheap options, you could receive poor-quality treatment and dental crowns that will, in turn, mean more time, money, and discomfort in the future. You should also consider the insurance coverage by determining whether your dentist works in-network or out-of-network.

Types Of Dental Crowns

There are many types of dental crowns that vary based on cost, patient’s need, materials, and procedures. They include:

E-MAX – Lithium Disilicate Crowns

Currently, E-Max is the newest type of dental crown in dentistry. This is an all-ceramic crown made of lithium disilicate, which is thin and light. The advantages of these dental crowns include the following:

  • They provide an excellent choice for back and front teeth
  • They have great aesthetics since they look great in your mouth
  • They are strong and durable

However, E-Max has some disadvantages. They include:

  • Some dental experts have reported failures using EMax for posterior teeth, especially when doing multiple teeth
  • They could be more expensive, particularly for the patient who requires several crowns

Gold Crowns

These crowns combine copper or other metals like chromium and nickel. Gold crowns are durable and strong. Most dentists recommend gold crowns as their preferred option for back restorations, although the ultimate choice depends on the patient's needs.

However, gold dental crowns are not a popular choice because of their aesthetics and color. Gold crowns have the following advantages:

  • They are ideal for posterior restorations, particularly second molars
  • They are highly resistant and strong
  • They wear down quite slowly, just like your natural enamel
  • They are long-lasting if properly cared for
  • Less portion of the natural tooth has to be removed during installation

Their disadvantages are as follows:

  • Gold alloy crowns could affect some patients and cause side effects like swelling or allergic reactions
  • Poor aesthetics since they do not look like a natural tooth

Zirconia Crowns

Zirconia is a new material that offers the aesthetics of porcelain crowns with the strength of the metal. Layered and highly translucent zirconia crowns are currently the most popular choices for most patients. They have the following advantages:

  • They are biocompatible, and unlike metal crowns, they are not likely to cause allergic reactions
  • They offer great aesthetics
  • Zirconia Crowns are less likely to wear down because of their strength
  • They are long-lasting and strong with less potential of breaking and chipping
  • The installation process is often less time-consuming since the crowns are cut and designed at the dental office. Therefore, you do not need to take them to a dental laboratory.

However, these crowns have disadvantages that include:

  • Solid zirconia can be difficult to adjust
  • Their strength could wear down the teeth they usually bite against

All Porcelain Crowns

All-porcelain crowns are the most preferred crowns in dentistry. The crowns are generally made of porcelain material. Their advantages include the following:

  • They are biocompatible, meaning there is no metal used, making them toxin-free
  • Ceramic or Porcelain dental crowns provide the best and most natural look. They match the patient’s surrounding teeth in color, shape, and size.
  • They are most suited for front teeth restorations.

However, their main disadvantages include the following:

  • They could be more expensive than other types of crowns, like metal crowns
  • They are weak compared to metal crowns. These crowns can be durable, but they must be cared for well.
  • People suffering from bruxism can opt for gold or porcelain Fused-to-Metal Crowns (PFM) instead of all porcelain crowns

Porcelain Fused-to-Metal Crowns (PFM)

These dental crowns are also widely used due to their many advantages. They provide aesthetics because of their porcelain coat, which covers the cap. They also provide strength because of their metal structure. They have the following advantages:

  • They are less costly than all-porcelain crowns
  • They provide excellent durability and aesthetics
  • They have been there for over fifty years, and they work well

They have the following disadvantages:

  • For patients who clench their teeth, PFM could wear down more easily against the opposing teeth
  • The metal in the crowns could cause a gray line at the gum line. Thus, they will not provide the 100% aesthetic appearance that all-porcelain crowns offer.

The Process Of Obtaining a Crown

If you require a custom-made dental crown, you will likely need to visit your dentist several times. The process of obtaining a crown is not something a dentist can do in one appointment. It can only happen in one appointment if your dentist owns a CEREC (Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics) or similar device that permits a patient to receive a crown in one appointment. The process will vary for each type of dental crown. The typical procedure involves the following:

  • The dentist will prepare your tooth, a process that can involve performing a root canal, removing the decay, or both
  • Your dentist will take a mold of your tooth so that the crown fits the exact shape of your tooth
  • Your dentist will use a temporary restoration to protect your tooth until the crown is ready. You must take special care of the temporary cap. For example, you should avoid eating sticky or hard foods to prevent them from cracking
  • Your dentist will most likely have the crown ready after one week

The second option involves the use of a digital scan as follows:

  • Your dentist takes an X-ray of your tooth to check for any sign of infection that would necessitate a root canal treatment before placing the crown
  • Your dentist will reshape the damaged tooth to make the perfect fit for your custom crown
  • Your dentist will take a digital scan of the affected tooth and the teeth above and below to create a custom crown. Your dentist will take a putty impression as an alternative where scanning is not an option.

A scanning device captures a 3D image of your teeth and shapes a crown from that digital image. This method has no waiting period because it involves constructing a crown in one day.

Your dentist will use a putty impression to create a custom crown if you are not a good candidate for a crown in one day. A putty impression crown takes four weeks. Your dentist will fit and adjust a temporary crown over the tooth if needed.

Your dentist will check how the crown fits once he/she has created it. The dentist will then cement and seal the crown if it covers the tooth correctly and causes no bite problems. A typical crown is expected to last five to fifteen years, depending on the material used.

The Cost Of Dental Crowns

The cost of a dental crown varies depending on the preparation required and the material used. For example, metal crowns are cheaper compared to all-porcelain crowns. In some situations, a core buildup would be needed to protect the tooth's integrity before crown placement.

In other circumstances, your dentist must perform a minor gum surgery or gingivectomy. This procedure allows the removal of part of the gums to enhance a better aesthetic or prognosis of the tooth or teeth. However, in a severe case, you could require a root canal that could double the overall cost of the procedure.

However, the cost of crown placement often ranges from $500 to $2,000 or more. The variance depends on whether you have insurance, what your policy covers, the amount your dentist charges, and the number of added procedures required to complete the treatment. You could spend $400 to $600 for an indirect resin crown if you are looking for a low-cost solution. You can enjoy this low cost if your own dentist makes the restoration.

 Cost Of a Dental Crown Between An In-Network And An Out-of-Network Dentist

The dental crown cost will differ based on whether you visit an in-network or out-of-network dentist. Your restoration cost in both dentists will be covered at 50%, but the out-of-network will be slightly more expensive. The reason is that the in-network dentists are often under the insurance companies' contract and must adhere to a set fee schedule. For example, if you visit an in-network dentist, the crown placement could cost you $1,000, and your out-of-pocket could be $500.

If you visit an out-of-network dentist, the crown placement could cost you $1300, and your out-of-pocket could be $650. In this case, the out-of-network dentist's fee will be $150 higher than the in-network dentist’s.

However, making a healthcare decision based solely on cost is not advisable. If people highly recommend your dentist, he/she has reviews, or you like them, it could be worth the high cost. You also need to beware of dentists who carry out some procedures, particularly major procedures, for financial gain. They use these procedures to charge higher fees by adding unnecessary services. For example, they could charge you for gum surgery when it is not required.

If you need a dental crown, booking an appointment with your preferred dentist first is best. Allow the staff to do a complimentary insurance check to determine what dental insurance will cover and what you will pay in cash. Once you acquire that information, you can inquire from other dentists to ensure your dentist's charges are within range. It is advisable to avoid basing your decision on the price because the following could be worth the extra financial cost:

  • The labs your dentist uses
  • The materials he/she uses
  • Friendly staff
  • The dentist’s bedside assistance

Average Cost Of A Tooth Crown

Currently, the average cost of a dental crown per tooth is as follows:

  • Gold crowns could cost you $600 to $2,500
  • All-porcelain crowns could cost you $800 to $3,000
  • Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns could cost you $500 to $1,500
  • Zirconia Crowns and E-max crowns could cost you the same as the all-porcelain crowns

Your insurance will likely cover 50% of the crown installation cost if you have a policy. However, everything will depend on your particular case and your insurance type. Your insurance plan will likely not cover the cost of the dental crown as part of a cosmetic treatment. Your insurance will only cover at least a percentage of your treatment if it is preventative. Some of the preventative treatments your insurance will cover include the repair of a broken tooth and covering a root canal.

Dental Crowns Failure Could Lead To Additional Costs

The primary purpose of a dental crown is to protect and restore the tooth to its normal function and appearance. While dental crowns are meant to last five to twenty years, dental problems can arise. If you experience dental crown problems, you must visit your dentist immediately. Dental crown failure could lead to additional costs. Some common dental crown problems you could experience include:

Nerve Problems

Nerves are located in the soft pulp at the tooth's center. In most cases, implanting a dental crown could disturb the nerves, leading to significant pain. You could experience the pain immediately after an implant procedure. The pain could also appear after weeks or months of crown placement.

It is rare for dental crown problems to affect the tooth pulp. However, if they do, it could result in extreme discomfort. Usually, the only remedy to the pain is to have a root canal or replace the crown.

Allergic Reactions

You can rarely have allergic reactions after undergoing a dental crown procedure. The problem is not common because a dentist will often first inquire if you have any medical conditions or allergies related to metals. This will help your dentist determine whether you need a gold or metal-based crown. However, if you are unaware of your allergy and the crown is placed, you could suffer soreness around the gums and teeth. The remedy to this problem is to have your dentist remove and replace the implant with porcelain.

Damaged Crowns

Modern dental crowns are made from porcelain and are not as long-lasting as natural teeth. Therefore, your crown could crack or break because of trauma. This problem can be solved by applying resin to the affected areas. Your dentist could do a full crown tooth replacement in case of larger breaks and chips.

Implant Failure

Incidents like injuries or accidents can cause the breaking or dislodging of implants. Crowns can also become loose by eating foods like chocolate, sweets, and hard nuts. You need to avoid these foods for two weeks after your implant. This will give your crown sufficient time to bond to your natural teeth. Then, your dentist can help you refit the loose implant. In some cases where the implant is badly damaged or has come off, you could require a new crown.

Find A Dental Crown Expert Near Me

Dental crowns can assist you with maintaining your smile without losing a damaged tooth to decay. If you wish to undergo a dental crown procedure, it is best that you consult a reliable dental crown expert. At Ganji Dental, we offer all types of dental crowns. You can count on us whether you want porcelain crowns, gold crowns, porcelain fused with metal, or any other type of dental crown. As your trusted Hawthorne local dental office, our team will happily take you through every step of the crown installation procedure. Contact us at 310-643-8045 and talk to one of our dentists.