How To Fix A Broken Dental Crown

Dental Crowns and What They Offer

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All too often, only when something goes wrong with our teeth do they receive the attention they deserve. While regular checkups are necessary, sometimes what you need requires more than just a quick clean. Patients that have a tooth that suffers from decay or has been chipped or damaged in some way may want to consider getting a crown. Unlike dentures, crowns are fixed prosthetics that are glued onto existing implants or teeth to reinforce the structure and can only be placed and removed by a professional dentist. Some choose to go this route out of necessity while others do it purely for aesthetic reasons.

Who Should Get Crowns

There are a wide variety of reasons for getting a crown. There are those that need it due to severe decay or damage to their teeth as a result of a lack of previous healthy oral hygiene. Others may suffer from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders where their teeth are worn down due to excessive teeth grinding (bruxism) or just naturally have misshapen or disproportionately small teeth. Some see it as a way to protect weaker teeth from fracturing, sort out their misaligned bite or cover a dental implant.

What Material to Use

If you and your dentist have decided that getting a crown is the right way to go, it is time to decide which type of material best serves your purpose and budget. The average price for a dental crown strongly depends on what type of material is used. Metal, on the one hand, would be the cheaper option and is extremely durable, but many will only use them for the back teeth as the gold color is extremely noticeable. A ceramic crown, on the other hand, is one of the most expensive options and is chosen for the front teeth as it is the most aesthetically pleasing option. This material though is not nearly as durable or cost-friendly as it is based on porcelain. Other possible materials include porcelain-fused-to-metal, gold crowns or zirconia metal-free crowns.

How It Is Done

After the material is chosen, you will more than likely need to make two visits to your dentist. The first visit will involve them preparing your tooth by removing the decaying or damaged area and then shaping the chewing surface and sides of the tooth to guarantee a good fit for the crown. This is all done usually under local anesthetic. The dentist will then take an impression of the tooth and send the mold to a dental lab where they know how to make dental crowns and will customize the crown in the correct material. At this time, your dentist will put on a temporary crown for protection until the permanent crown is ready for placement.

Once the crown is ready, you will be called in for a second visit which involves the temporary crown being removed and the new crown being bonded over the tooth or implant with a strong adhesive. Once it is placed, the dentist will then buff and polish the crown until it has the correct texture to give you a smooth look and correct bite. This too is usually completed under a local anesthetic.

How Much It Costs

At the end of the day, the end cost of a dental crown is one of the most important factors that many people may have to take into consideration. There is a variety of factors that play a role in deciding the average cost for a dental crown such as the amount of preparation needed, the number of crowns necessary and the material of the crowns themselves. For example, a dental exam can range from $40-120, x-rays from $20-150, crown materials and treatments from $500-2,500 per tooth, root canal from $750-1,000 per tooth and dental implants from $1500-2000 per tooth. In many cases, insurance providers may cover partial costs if the crowns are needed out of necessity, but for those that would like crowns only for aesthetics reasons, chances are, all the cost will have to come out of pocket. While these prices may seem steep and it may be tempting to go to the cheapest dentist, remember that the cheapest option will more often than not also leave you with lower quality service and material which may cost you much more in the long run.

The Importance of Oral Hygiene

The length of time that these crowns last depends on the material being used and also the level of daily oral hygiene that is being done. The better care that is taken to help avoid any oral disease, the longer they will last. This includes brushing your teeth twice a day with non-abrasive toothpaste, using a mouthwash that isn't alcohol based and flossing daily. Note though that you may have to change your flossing techniques to avoid damaging the crowns. Also, make sure to avoid any sticky or hard food, and avoid any bad habits like smoking or biting your nails. Most importantly though, schedule in visits to your dentist at least twice a year so they can monitor the crown, clean it when necessary and assess the tooth under the crown.