Dental or oral health is essential and influences one’s overall health, quality of life, and well-being. Even if we care, there are many such factors causing tooth decay and damage, in both younger and older people. What will you do if your tooth is damaged? Visiting a dentist will be your first priority, right? The dentist will check up and suggest either a dental crown or dental filling. Different types of dental crowns are explained here for your detailed understanding.
Gum diseases, cavities, physical injuries, and other diseases are common risk factors for tooth damage. When the dentist finds a tooth damaged or weak, mostly suggested treatment is a dental crown. So, what is a dental crown? It is a cap for your damaged teeth, which restores the structure, support, and aesthetics of one’s original tooth. This is neither a much expensive nor painful procedure. In general, this procedure gets completed with an average of two visits. On the first visit, the dentist will prepare the tooth that requires a crown, after doing an X-Ray to analyze the exact condition. If the tooth is found to be decayed, injured, or infected; a root canal procedure will be done. On the next visit, the permanent crown will be placed over the prepared tooth after removing the temporary crown placed on the first visit.
When is a dental crown suggested by a dentist? Usually, it is suggested when a dental filling is not found to be a good solution. This involves several reasons, if your original tooth is cracked, broken, chipped, severely discolored, or misshapen. Dental crowns are also suggested for covering a tooth that has undergone a dental implant or root canal treatment.
How much does a dental crown cost? The cost of dental crowns will vary from country to country. The common factor is, that the types of dental crowns and cost are directly related. The factors that affect the cost are the type of material used and the tooth preparation required. The tooth preparation means the core buildup which may include procedures like gingivectomy, a minor gum surgery, or a root canal. The average cost per crown may range between $400 to $2000 or even more.
Types of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are made up of different materials like metal, all-resin, porcelain-fused-to-metal, pressed ceramic, all-ceramic, or all-porcelain. These dental crown types based on the material will vary in quality and cost.
- Metal: Gold, palladium, nickel, and chromium are the most commonly used metals for dental crowns. The metal crowns will last longer and withstand chewing and biting forces. The major drawback is the metallic color and it is a better choice for out-of-sight molars.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal: This dental crown with metal under the crown’s porcelain cap matches the color of the natural teeth and is suitable for front and back teeth.
- Pressed ceramic: This long-lasting dental crown with a hard inner core is capped with porcelain, which offers the best natural color.
- All-resin: These are less expensive dental crowns that is more likely to break than other crowns.
- All-ceramic or all-porcelain: These types of dental crowns are suitable for front teeth and it gives the best natural color match. The all-porcelain crowns are biocompatible and toxic-free.
- E- MAX-Lithium Disilicate Crowns: This latest type of all-ceramic crown made of lithium disilicate is long-lasting.
- Zirconia Crowns: This crown made with Zirconium material is strong and long-lasting, which provides great aesthetics. The biocompatible Zirconia crowns are less likely to wear down and involve a less time-consuming process.
The importance of this process can be noticed easily by taking a glance at dental crowns before and after results. After receiving a dental crown, you must avoid eating sticky or chewy foods for a period of 24-48 hours. After that, no special care is required for your dental crown. If you maintain good oral hygiene, the dental crowns will last up to an average of 15 years or more.
How to find the best dental clinic in Riyadh? Choosing a dental clinic is having as much importance as selecting a hospital for health treatment. There are various top-rated dental clinics, from them what you must consider is the accreditation of the clinic, offered specializations, patient experience (consider online reviews or referrals from friends & family), the quality of service offered, and more.