What You Should Know About Dental Crowns

There you are watching a movie, innocently eating your popcorn...
Crack! Ouch! Uh oh? Was that your tooth? Oh no!!
Time to call Kaydental!

While this scenario might sound a bit dramatic, unfortunately, many patients find themselves in an urgent or even emergency situation and may require treatment with a dental crown. And, many of you reading this may already have had a dental crown (or crowns) placed. However, some patients are reluctant to proceed when the recommended treatment is a crown for a badly decayed or broken tooth, or one that is very heavily filled. So here is some basic information about dental crowns as well as how Kaydental can support you if you have financial concerns about this treatment.

What is a Crown?

A crown (also called 'a cap') is a "made to measure" covering that sits over the top of a tooth. Crowns protect, cover, seal and strengthen teeth. When a filling just won't do the job, we often recommend treating the tooth with a dental crown.

The crown is made to duplicate the same anatomy (shape, size, contours and colour) as the tooth that it will be covering, so each crown is individually fabricated in a dental lab. Because crowns duplicate the anatomy of a natural tooth, they also function as a natural tooth would. Kaydental works closely with the dental laboratory to ensure the accuracy of the fabricated crown.

Crowns are typically gold covered by porcelain, the colour of which is matched as closely as possible to other natural teeth in your mouth. These materials together provide the crown with its strength.

Once permanently cemented in place, the crown looks, feels and functions as a natural tooth and should be cared for the same as natural teeth (brushing and flossing). Crowns are strong and generally last for about 10 years or longer if you take good care of them. Brush and floss your crown, just as you clean your natural teeth.

What situations may call for a crown?

Large old fillings - Teeth that have large, old fillings often develop decay (cavities) around those fillings. If the fillings and decay use up too much of the natural tooth structure, the tooth becomes weak and can fracture. It is important to crown a tooth that has been structurally weakened to prevent further damage such as cracking or breaking and possible loss of the tooth. If the fracture is too deep, root canal therapy may be required before the tooth is crowned.

Severe decay – If a tooth has decay so deep and large that a filling will not stay, or if the tooth structure is weakened, a crown can often save the tooth and avoid the need to remove the tooth.

Sensitive teeth – Teeth that are very sensitive, either from a lot of 'wear', or from receded gums, sometimes require crowns to seal and protect the teeth from further hot and cold sensitivity.

Root Canal Therapy – A tooth that has undergone root canal therapy will need a crown to properly seal and protect the tooth from fracturing.

What about the cost of a crown?

The fee for a crown is higher than for most dental fillings because of the time, expertise and materials involved in making a crown. Most private insurance plans cover most if not all of the cost of crowns. As well, Kaydental offers our patients individual, no-interest payment plan options that are managed completely in office, with no third-party involvement. And, because crowns can last for ten years or even a lifetime, they are a good investment for the long-term care of your oral health.

If a crown has been recommended for you, we encourage you to contact our office to discuss your individual treatment needs and the estimated costs. The more you know about your dental options, the more educated your decisions about your oral health can be!

Sources:

• Canadian Dental Association: http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/procedures/crowns/