Dental Crowns – Chesapeake, VA
Repairing & Improving Compromised Teeth
At Troisi Dentistry in Chesapeake, our goal is always to help dental patients achieve and maintain a healthy, beautiful smile. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible even for those dentistry patients with the most diligent oral health care routines. When tooth decay or damage occurs, we do our utmost to maintain as much tooth structure as possible by providing conservative dentistry treatment plans. We also work with an eye toward the end result, as a truly repaired smile should look as good as it feels. To repair moderate damage to a single tooth or replace a severely damaged tooth, we may be able to use tooth-colored dental crowns to recreate your healthy smile. If you need help repairing dental damage or decay, call to schedule a consultation to discuss dental crowns in our Chesapeake, VA dental office right away.
Why Choose Troisi Dentistry for Dental Crowns?
- Lifelike & Durable Dental Materials
- CEREC Technology for One-Visit Crowns
- Welcomes Insurance & Financing
What is a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns, as you might have guessed based on the name, are dental restorations that sit over the top of a damaged tooth – like a crown. Crowns are crafted to perform two roles in dental restoration. First, they repair and replace the lost tooth structure to recreate your bite’s proper function and alignment. Second, dental crowns protect your remaining tooth structures from additional damage or decay, preserving the remaining healthy parts of the tooth.
The Dental Crown Process
Most dental crowns are placed in two visits to our dental office. At your first appointment, we’ll prepare your tooth or teeth by removing any damaged structures and shaping the tooth to accommodate the space taken up by a dental crown. Once your teeth are prepared, we’ll take impressions that’ll be used by our dental lab to craft your dental cap. Before you leave, we’ll place a temporary crown to protect your prepared tooth until your high-quality final restoration is complete.
When the dental crown is returned from the lab, you’ll come back to see us for your second appointment. This shorter visit is simple. We’ll remove your temporary one and replace it with the custom restoration. Our team will double-check that it fits perfectly, your bite is correct, and you’re satisfied with the results. If so, you’ll be free to leave the dental office to enjoy your beautiful smile.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
With custom dental crowns, you can be sure to appreciate a multitude of advantages to your smile, including:
- Better comfort and chewing power
- Preservation of natural tooth structure
- Natural-looking material that blends with the rest of your smile
- Reduced chances of complications later on
- Durable results that can last 15 years or more with proper care
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
If you’ve recently learned that you need a dental crown, there’s no need to stress. Troisi Dentistry is here to guide you through every step! During your visit, we’ll carefully evaluate your oral health and explain all the factors that will influence the final cost of your treatment. We’ll also review your financing options and provide an accurate estimate so you can make an informed decision about moving forward. To help you prepare, here’s what you should know about the typical cost of dental crowns in Chesapeake.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
Several important factors come into play when determining the price of a dental crown:
- Extent of Dental Damage & Additional Procedures: If your tooth requires more extensive care, such as a root canal or preparation for a dental implant, this can increase the total cost.
- Type of Crown Material: Crowns can be made from a variety of materials, including metal alloys, gold, porcelain, or ceramic. Each option comes with its own price range and benefits.
- Crown Crafting Method: Whether your crown is made using traditional techniques or with advanced same-day technology like CEREC also affects the overall cost.
While it may be tempting to choose the least expensive option, it’s important to consider long-term value. A well-crafted crown should not only restore the function and appearance of your tooth but also offer lasting durability and comfort. Investing in quality now can help you avoid additional costs and complications in the future.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
In most cases, yes! Many dental insurance plans consider crowns to be medically necessary and typically cover up to about 50% of the treatment cost. Our team will gladly review your insurance benefits to see exactly what’s covered. We’ll check your deductible status and remaining annual maximum, so you’ll have a clear picture of your out-of-pocket expenses before proceeding with treatment.
Other Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
Don’t have dental insurance? No problem. We’re committed to helping patients access the care they need, which is why Troisi Dentistry offers additional financing options through our in-house membership plan and CareCredit. With third-party financing, you can break up the total cost into manageable monthly payments, often with little or no interest, so you won’t have to worry about paying everything upfront. It’s a simple way to fit important dental care into your budget.
Dental Crowns FAQs
What are Dental Crowns Made From?
Historically, these tooth-shaped caps were made from amalgam mixtures of metal that were durable enough to withstand the everyday pressure of biting and chewing. However, these restorations weren’t biocompatible, meaning more enamel was removed to hold them in place. This further compromised the structure of the underlying teeth, increasing the likelihood of developing damage or decay.
Today, our Troisi Dentistry team in Chesapeake uses resilient, tooth-colored ceramic that bonds with your enamel for beautiful, long-lasting results. This material is both lifelike and durable for a seamlessly restored smile.
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
Many patients wonder whether dental crowns, like dentures, are intended to be frequently removed and reinserted, but that’s not the case. They’re cemented over your injured teeth to rebuild their appearance and functionality, and are not intended to be removed except by a qualified professional, like one of our Troisi providers. They don’t usually last forever, though, and might eventually require repairs or replacement, so they’re considered long-term rather than ‘permanent’.
With that said, it’s worth noting that a small amount of enamel must be removed for your restoration to fit correctly without seeming overly large or bulky. This protective outer layer doesn’t regenerate, making this an irreversible treatment.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
Dental crowns are made from resilient porcelain that aren’t made of the same organic material as your enamel and are less porous. That means bacteria in your mouth doesn’t affect them the same way, and they can’t develop tooth decay.
However, that doesn’t mean you no longer need to worry about your oral health. The underlying tooth protected by your restoration can still contract cavities or gum disease if you neglect your dental hygiene routine. To keep everything in good shape, brush and floss twice daily, and avoid overly sugary foods that attract unhealthy germs that contribute to dental issues.
Does Getting a Dental Crown Hurt?
Plenty of people experience anxiety around dental appointments, especially if they’re having a more involved procedure, like placing a dental crown. Thankfully, this treatment isn’t considered particularly painful. Still, our team will numb the affected tooth with a local anesthetic before beginning your service to ensure you feel comfortable and calm the entire time.
We also offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for those who are overly fearful, struggle with sitting still, have a sensitive gag reflex, or don’t respond well to local anesthetics. If you’re interested in dental sedation, please let us know, and we’d be happy to have a discussion to determine whether you’re a good candidate.