Types and Costs of Crowns Houston, Texas

What is a crown?
When you get a filling, the dentist drills away the decayed portion of the tooth and fills in the hole. A crown takes this process one step further by covering the tooth. The crown works to strengthen the tooth and protect it from breaking, which is particularly important after it’s been weakened by decay.
Crowns are made from a variety of materials including metal and porcelain, and each material has benefits that lend it to being used in certain situations. Most metal crowns are made of gold, palladium or base metal alloys. Before applying the crown, the dentist will generally need to file down or shape the tooth. A strong adhesive is then applied to keep the crown in place.
When do I need a crown?
- When your tooth is broken or cracked
- When the decay extends to three or more sides of the tooth
- When you have a large filling
- When a filing is worn out from time
In situations where a substantial amount of decay is present or the tooth is fractured, a crown is the best treatment. This will protect the existing tooth and help to prevent you from requiring an extraction or root canal.
If you have already had a root canal, a crown will be necessary for that tooth. The root canal procedure leaves your tooth very vulnerable and brittle. The Crown will protect it from further damage and prevent it from breaking.
How much will it cost?
Crowns in general come in one of three varieties:
- All metal
- All porcelain
- Metal base with porcelain top
Metal crowns are sturdier and less expensive than porcelain, but they are plainly visible. Porcelain crowns more closely match the tone of your natural tooth, making them less obvious. In most cases, a dentist will prefer to put a metal crown in the rear teeth and a more cosmetically appealing porcelain crown in the visible front teeth.
The cost of a dental crown will vary depending on the materials used, your dentist’s rates, what type of tooth is being crowned and whether you have dental insurance. In general, a basic rear tooth crown will cost between $895 and $1,145. A cosmetic front tooth crown will cost between $995 to $1,345.
Although the cost of a crown may be daunting, it’s important to remember that it will protect you from additional expenses down the road. A single crown is much less expensive than a root canal, extraction or multiple crowns and fillings required to contain spreading tooth decay. Taking this preventive measure can isolate the problem and strengthen your teeth to protect the overall health of your mouth.
By John Bridger
OUR COSMETIC SERVICES AT A GLANCE
Porcelain Veneers
Snap On Smile
Lumineers
Zoom! Tooth Whitening
Teeth Whitening Methods
Cost of Veneers, Lumineers
Types and Costs of Crowns
Non-Metal Based All-Porcelain Crowns
Difference Between Porcelain and Metal Crowns
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