Dental Crowns – San Antonio, TX

What Is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a cap designed to fit over a damaged tooth to restore its original size, appearance, and function, and it usually does not require anything more than proper oral hygiene to stay in good shape. Dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials, and our office offers them in gold, porcelain, zirconia, ceramic, and porcelain fused to metal.

Dental implants are used when the damage is too extensive to be treated with a filling, to reshape teeth that are small or misshapen, or to restore teeth after dental treatments like root canals. They can also be used to protect weakened teeth from injury, to anchor a dental bridge in place, or to serve as an artificial tooth for a dental implant.

The Dental Crown Process

We usually place dental crowns over the course of two appointments. The first appointment begins with a thorough exam of your mouth to determine how to best treat you, and this usually involves taking X-rays to gather data about the tooth and the surrounding bone. Once Dr. Patel determines that a dental crown is the best course of treatment, he will remove some of the tooth’s structure to make room for it, and how much is removed largely depends on the material of the crown being placed. In some cases, he may use composite resin to reinforce the tooth so it can support a crown.

He will then take an impression of your bite, which will be sent to a lab where a skilled technician will manufacture a crown that fits the prepared tooth and aligns with the corresponding teeth on the other arch. You will receive a temporary crown and be sent on your way.

About two weeks later, you will come back for a second appointment, during which the temporary crown will be removed and the permanent one will be cemented in place.

The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown

Our dental crowns deliver several benefits that can noticeably improve your oral health and your quality of life, including:

• Protecting teeth: A dental crown can shelter a tooth from damage, preventing the need for extraction or further dental work like a root canal.
• Beautifying your smile: Dental crowns can seamlessly blend in with the rest of your teeth, giving you a smile you can be proud of.
• Improved chewing: A dental crown can restore a compromised tooth’s chewing power, allowing you to comfortably enjoy a wide variety of foods.
• Results that last: With proper maintenance, your crown can last for fifteen years or more.

If you’re looking for the best place to get a dental crown, Dr. Patel’s office has your tooth covered. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to schedule you for a consultation!

Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns  

One of the things that makes dental crowns so popular is their incredible versatility. The materials and construction used for your restoration can be fit to match your unique needs. However, this also means that it can be a little bit difficult to say what your dental crown is likely to cost without actually meeting you first.

In the meantime, here are a few things that you should know about budgeting for your dental crown procedure.

Factors that Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns 

Your dental crown is likely to be just as unique as you are, which means that there are myriad factors that can determine the cost of your treatment. A big one is the material that your dental crown is constructed from. We make restorations out of gold, porcelain, zirconia, or ceramic—each of which comes with its own unique price-point.

Many patients who see us for a dental crown also need other preliminary treatments before that procedure can be done, like root canals or gum disease therapy. You should also think about these factors when budgeting for your new restoration.

It’s important to remember that you get what you pay for when it comes to dental work. It can be tempting to default to the most affordable option at every opportunity, but the best thing you can do is to balance what you’re willing to pay with what you need out of your dental crown. We will be sure to help you make these decisions when we meet for your consultation.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns? 

Dental crowns are a major restorative procedure, one that is used to address a wide variety of oral health problems. This being the case, you can usually expect your dental insurance company to cover a portion of the costs associated with dental crowns (provided you’re getting them for legitimate health reasons). Many insurance companies will pay for around 50% of the cost of your dental crown, though this can vary from plan to plan.

Other Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable

That said, we want our services to be available to patients of all stripes, including those without insurance. For that reason, we do our part to make sure that our care is never prohibitively expensive.

For one, we’re currently offering a special on emergency exams. If you have a serious toothache or damaged enamel, your initial exam will only cost $75!

We also frequently work with CareCredit, which provides financing services to patients who qualify. This can allow you to split up the cost of your dental services across several months, making it an excellent option for patients who are intimidated by lump-sum payments.

Give us a call, and we’ll be happy to talk to you about what you can do to make your dental care fit your budget.