Cost of a Dental Crown

Dental crowns can cost several hundred dollars and are often covered by insurance up to a certain amount. The cost associated with dental crowns is affected by how many teeth need crowning and what material is used in the crowns. If extensive crowning is needed, a patient may have to pay for a significant part of the procedure.

Definition

• Dental crowns are small white caps cemented in place over a tooth. They may be temporary or permanent and are often made to blend into the enamel. Crowns serve to improve the appearance of a tooth, increase its strength or restore its shape and size. They may be used for a variety of reasons such as to cover a dental bridge, a severely discolored tooth, a tooth with a large filling in which there is not much of the actual tooth left, a dental implant, to hold together a cracked tooth, or to protect a weakened tooth, damaged from decay.

Types of Crowns

• There are all-resin, all-porcelain, all-metal and porcelain fused with metal crowns. Each has their own drawbacks. For instance, all-metal crowns, made from gold alloy, among other metals, does not wear much on the adjacent teeth and can withstand biting and chewing. Due to its metallic appearance, however, it does not look natural and may be best for molars in the back of the mouth. All-resin crowns, although relatively inexpensive, easily break or wear down. All-porcelain, or all-ceramic crowns, are natural in appearance, but they also wear down easily.

Specific Costs

• The actual cost of a dental crown can range from $500-$900 or higher. As mentioned by writers at WebMD, the cost of the crown may be partially covered by insurance.

Considerations

• Sensitivity to hot and cold may be experienced right after getting the crown. You may have to use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth as a result. Crowns made of porcelain are prone to chipping. If the chipping is extensive, the crown may need to be replaced. Also crowns can become loose and/or ultimately fall off. Though it is rare, you may have an allergic reaction to the metal or procelain used in crowns. Porcelain fused to metal crowns may have a dark line at the top, near the gum line showing the underlying metal, undermining the natural appearance of the tooth.

Special Care

• Crowned teeth should be treated as regular teeth. It must be remembered that since a tooth has a crown it does not mean that it is free from infection as bacteria can still invade the tooth under the crown. Following good oral hygiene like flossing once a day and brushing your teeth at least two times a day will help to reduce the chance of infection.