Living with an injured, fragile, or broken tooth can be inconvenient at best and painful at worst. Luckily, a tooth that has been weakened by damage or decay can be restored to its former integrity with a state-of-the-art dental crown, a sturdy restoration designed to enhance function as much as aesthetics! If your tooth needs a little extra support, Dr Clarence Tam and our skilled dental team can place a custom-made dental crown to protect your tooth and resolve pain, sensitivity, or reduced biting ability.
- What are Dental Crowns?
- Dental Crown Benefits
- Dental Crown Candidates
- Types of Dental Crowns
- Dental Crowns Procedure
- Dental Crowns Cost
What are Dental Crowns?
A dental crown is a ceramic or porcelain “cap” that is custom-designed to cover the top of your tooth for additional support and reinforcement. Crowns are often used when a cavity is too large for a filling, but they also have a variety of other uses, including:
- To strengthen a damaged tooth
- To restore a tooth that is worn down or has suffered extensive decay
- To protect a tooth after a root canal
- To anchor a dental bridge
- To cover a dental implant
Crowns are utilized in many different restorative dental treatments and often play a key part in achieving a healthy, well-functioning smile. Many older types of all-metal dental crowns can be very conspicuous in the mouth, but the aesthetic crowns at Tam Dental Group are fabricated to match the exact color, shade, and proportions of your teeth for a beautiful result that blends in with your smile.
What are the Benefits of Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are incredibly versatile — they can help alleviate pain caused by a cracked or damaged tooth to strengthen your bite, or be placed in complement with larger restorative treatments, such as implant bridges or root canal therapy. When placed by a talented dentist, the benefits of dental crowns may include:
- Custom-made to fit perfectly within your smile
- Color-matched to the shade of your surrounding teeth
- Can be placed in two office visits or less
- Minimal tooth preparation necessary, allowing patients to preserve as much natural tissue as possible
- Non-surgical solution to fix damaged teeth
- No major downtime necessary after treatment
While the benefits of dental crowns are primarily functional, our custom-made crowns can also enhance the aesthetics and symmetry of your smile. They can be considered an “upgrade” from the older metal crowns typically utilized in the past.
Is a Dental Crown Right for Me?
Dental crowns don’t require oral surgery and can help countless patients improve the form and function of their smile. In general, individuals who struggle with dental pain or enamel damage may consider a dental crown to help reinforce a weak tooth. Key to successful treatment is a clean, healthy mouth prior to getting a dental crown. If you have any signs of infection, gum disease, or problematic bacteria buildup, gum disease treatment or a cleaning may be performed before you start the dental crown process. Rest assured that Dr Tam and our skilled dental team will let you know exactly what to expect during your consultation.
Types of Dental Crowns
The best material to fabricate your dental crown will depend on the location of your tooth and your unique needs. The types of crowns available at our practice include:
- Zirconia: Often referred to as “ceramic steel,” zirconia crowns are praised for their strength and durability as much as their lasting beauty. Not all dental practices offer zirconia, so our team is thrilled to provide our patients with this dynamic restoration option. Zirconia restorations are biocompatible, meaning they do not require an allergy test, and can often last as long (or longer) as metal-based crowns. They typically resist corrosion and can even shield your teeth against sensitivity caused by hot and cold foods. Due to their longevity, zirconia crowns can be an ideal solution to restore the back molar teeth.
- Composite: Dental crowns made of composite resin are tooth-colored, allowing them to appear indistinguishably among your surrounding teeth. While they can be very enduring, composite crowns are typically not as strong as porcelain or ceramic restorations. However, they are generally more economical than other materials.
- Porcelain: All-porcelain crowns can provide a stunning match to your natural tooth color and offer a more enduring option when compared to composite resin. They can be a particularly effective choice for patients who have a metal allergy, or who need to restore one of their front teeth.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal: These crowns consist of a porcelain cap fused to a metal base. Porcelain-fused-to-metal can be a sturdy material to protect the molar teeth (posterior composite restorations) while still providing natural-looking aesthetics.
In certain cases, our dentist may suggest an inlay or onlay to support your tooth rather than a dental crown. These restorations can sometimes be a better treatment option for patients who only need protection for a portion of their tooth, as opposed to the entire tooth structure.
What is the Dental Crown Procedure Like?
Dental crowns are manufactured in an advanced dental laboratory to help ensure the highest degree of quality and precision possible. First, your dentist will examine your concerns and discuss your goals with you to confirm that a dental crown is the best option to restore the health and beauty of your tooth. An impression of your tooth and mouth will be taken to achieve a comfortable, natural fit for your porcelain or composite crown. One week is typically required to fabricate your restoration. At your next appointment, your dentist will prepare the affected tooth for crown placement while conserving as much natural tissue as possible. Patients report little to no discomfort during this process, although we do offer personalized sedation dentistry techniques to alleviate any anxiety about treatment. The crown is then bonded to the top of your tooth with a durable cement, generally resulting in a long-term solution to recover the form and function of the weakened tooth.
How Much Do Dental Crowns Cost?
At our Auckland practice, a single dental crown typically costs between $1,350 and $2,350. The price generally fluctuates according to the details of each patient’s treatment plan, such as:
- The type of crowns placed
- The location of the crown
- The amount of tooth preparation necessary
- Your insurance (if applicable)
After your consultation, our team will be able to provide you with a personalized quote, as well as your different payment options. If you prefer to manage the cost of dental crowns with small monthly payments, we accept dental financing from Q Mastercard®—a leading provider of flexible long- and short-term payment plans for qualified patients in New Zealand. Please call our office if you have any questions, or if you would like to learn more about our dental pricing.
Questions? Reach out to our practice to schedule a consultation at our Newmarket or Devonport locations, or for additional information about our services.