Dental crowns are the most common restorative procedure in the United States. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, over 2 million crowns are placed each year! Here in Rome, Dr. Ryan Weldon and our talented team regularly place crowns to protect and restore damaged and decayed teeth. Whether you have an infected tooth or your tooth was damaged by an unexpected accident, it’s important not to push off treatment. If you believe you could benefit from a durable dental crown, do not hesitate to
schedule an initial consultation
with Dr. Weldon today!
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is a permanent cap that is placed over a damaged or decayed tooth to restore its shape, size, and strength. They can be made out of a variety of materials at different price points, including gold, ceramic, porcelain, and other metal alloys.
Dental crowns can both protect a weakened tooth and improve the way it looks. We typically recommend this versatile restoration for patients who have:
A broken, cracked, or fractured tooth
A stained or discolored tooth
A misshapen or undersized tooth
A tooth that has just received root canal therapy
A previously decayed tooth with a large dental filling that needs extra support
The Dental Crown Process
A dental crown can typically be placed in just two trips to an experienced dentist in Rome. Here’s what you can expect when you come to our office for a dental crown:
First, Dr. Weldon will carefully examine your tooth to determine whether a dental crown is the best treatment option for you. He will discuss the ins and outs of the process and answer any questions you may have.
To prepare your tooth for a crown, a thin layer of enamel will be removed.
Next, Dr. Weldon will make an impression of your trimmed tooth and send it to the dental laboratory, where your custom crown will be crafted.
Your permanent dental crown will be ready in a couple weeks. In the meantime, a temporary crown will be placed over your tooth to protect it.
Once your crown comes in, we will welcome you back to our office, where Dr. Weldon will remove your temporary crown and replace it with your new permanent restoration.
Our team will show you how to properly care for your restoration so you can continue enjoying it for years to come.
The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
Dental crowns in Rome provide a wide range of benefits, including:
Improve comfort and chewing ability
Protect natural teeth from further damage
Prevent damaged or decayed teeth from needing to be extracted in the future
Enhance the appearance of stained, undersized, or misshapen teeth
Blend in seamlessly with surrounding smile thanks to customization
Lifespan of 15+ years with proper oral hygiene and routine dental checkups
Delaying treatment for a damaged or decayed tooth can allow minor issues to grow into major oral health problems. If you want to keep your natural tooth and protect it from future harm, do not hesitate to contact our office today!
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
Even as you consider dental crowns, you might worry about their price. Fair enough – these dental caps can’t help if they exceed your budget. The cost of dental crowns varies by patient, though, so you’ll need to consult Dr. Weldon for an exact estimate. We at Weldon Dental will then explain our crowns’ pricing factors and the available payment options. Find out more about these details by reading onward or by calling us today.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
At the initial consultation, Dr. Weldon will closely examine your tooth (or teeth). Doing so lets him review (among other things) factors relevant to the final crown price. The most common of these elements include the following:
Damage Severity – Depending on the tooth damage, a crown will cost more or less. For example, minor breaks or decay may mean you only need the dental cap. Alternatively, a severely damaged tooth may require preliminary work in addition to the crown. These extra services would add to your expenses.
Crown Material – Some dental practices provide metal crowns, which are eye-catching yet cheap. However, our own office offers pricier, tooth-colored ones made of porcelain.
Crown Processing – A crown isn’t too expensive when made with the traditional milling method. Crowns made with CEREC technology, though, can get pricey.
When reviewing these factors, note that cheap crowns aren’t ideal. Oral health depends on high-quality care, which often costs more. Therefore, aim for an effective crown that’s durable and long-lasting.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
Crown placement is a major procedure, a kind that’s often deemed medically necessary. Therefore, dental insurance typically covers it. Specifically, most policies will match up to 50% of a crown treatment’s cost.
All that said, there are always exceptions. Your own dental plan may not cover crowns, or its coverage involves special rules. In light of these possibilities, confirm your benefits before pursuing treatment. Our office will even help you do so.
Other Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
Aside from insurance, several other ways exist to make crowns affordable. The most crucial of these are a dental practice’s payment options. With the right one, even a pricey crown can become budget-friendly.
Just look at our own Weldon Dental, for example. We happen to offer flexible financing via CareCredit – a reputable third-party financier. Through them, you could pay for crowns with monthly, low-interest installments. This approach would let you gradually cover the cost of care rather than all at once.
As you can see, our team wants to make your crowns effective and affordable. That said, learn more about financing them by booking a consultation with us!
Dental Crowns FAQs
So, you want to try dental crowns in Rome? That’s great news – the dental caps will make your teeth stronger and prettier! Even so, you ought to learn more about them first. Doing so will boost your confidence in the upcoming treatment. Fortunately, our office can help with that task: below are the answers to some popular dental crown questions. You’ll see what our tooth-colored prosthetics can do by reading them over. Feel free to call us, though, if you have other questions or concerns.
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
Ultimately, no – dental crowns aren’t permanent. They can protect teeth for five to 15 years if they’re well-maintained. Still, this lifespan makes the typical dental crown a long-term restoration. The cap will also protect its underlying tooth from damage, helping the latter survive longer than it would’ve otherwise.
In contrast, the reshaping done to a crowned tooth is irreversible. The enamel removed by this process can’t grow back, so the pearly white will always need a crown. Therefore, you’ll want to keep the cap in good shape with daily oral hygiene, regular checkups, and other methods.
Does It Hurt to Get a Dental Crown?
As luck would have it, getting a crown doesn’t hurt. Dentists take every step to ensure treatment is very smooth and comfortable.
For starters, a dental team numbs your mouth before starting the procedure. (They use a topical anesthetic for this step.) That way, the tooth-shaping process won’t cause you any pain. The most you’ll sense is some slight pressure as the dentist continues their work.
Furthermore, post-treatment soreness tends to be minimal. You can easily manage aches from crown placement with over-the-counter pain relievers. That said, don’t hesitate to see a dentist if the pain gets severe. You might be facing a treatment-related side effect in that case.
Are Dental Crowns Safe?
Yes, dental crowns are very safe for patients. When placed by an experienced dentist, they won’t cause you any harm.
One reason for this fact is that today’s crowns lack mercury. In fact, most rely on toxin-free ceramic and zirconia instead. The result is that crowns seldom cause allergic reactions or other painful effects. (Adverse reactions to dental porcelain are doubtful, after all.)
Of course, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Call your dentist immediately if you experience gum irritation, redness, or swelling near a crown. These signs could point to an allergic reaction.
Do Dental Crowns Feel Natural?
Over time, crowns feel increasingly natural to the patients who have them. Many report that a crown feels tooth-like after just a few days of using it.
Firstly, keep in mind that a crown is made from durable materials. These latter parts can withstand chewing forces as easily as enamel can. Therefore, eating with one of the caps shouldn’t feel strange.
Also, don’t forget that every crown is custom-made. Each one is based on impressions of your unique tooth. Consequently, the crown shouldn’t feel awkward or even noticeable to you.
Weldon Dental of Rome can be found along Martha Berry Blvd NE,
near the intersection of N 5th Ave and W 11th Street. We’re only
minutes away from the Publix Super Market at Charles High
Square, Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center, and Heritage Park. If
you see Divine Salon & Spa or The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy,
you’re in the right place! We can’t wait to welcome you in soon
and help you get started on a brighter, healthier smile.