Cosmetic Dentistry Treatment Options: Dental Crowns

With an ever increasing number of men and women turning to cosmetic dentistry, there are an increasing number of options available in regard to cosmetic dentistry at this point in time. Historically, one of the more widely used treatments that is used when it comes to cosmetic dentistry is the placement of dental crowns. The following brief article provides you some basic information about when dental crowns are best used, the procedures that are involved in placing dental crowns and the costs associated with placing dental crowns in your mouth.

If you do want more information about dental crowns and other cosmetic dentistry procedures, you will want to consult with your dentist.

Dental Crowns: When They are Best Used

Dental crowns are best used when a tooth has seriously been damaged. Dental crowns are used when a tooth is in such a state that the only viable option beyond the placement of a dental crown is the removal of the tooth itself.

Examples of when dental crowns should be considered on damaged teeth include instances when teeth are seriously cracked or have suffered decay to the point that if a dental filling were utilized, a significant portion of the tooth involved with end up consisting of dental filling product.

In some instances, people have turned to dental crowns for completely cosmetic purposes. There may be no underlying damage or serious problem with the natural teeth in a person’s mouth. Nonetheless, they desire a more “perfect” (but potentially less natural) look by having multiple (if not all) of the teeth in their mouths crowned. Many dentists that specialize in cosmetic dentistry would frown on such a universal approach to tooth crowning when there is no underlying significant damage to the natural bite. However, and again, the practice of crowning teeth to obtain a more “perfect” smile is becoming very widespread.

Procedures to Place Dental Crowns

The placement of dental crowns into a person’s mouth is somewhat of an involved procedure. It does take more than one visit to the dentist’s office and there can be some pain involved in the overall process of installing dental crowns.

The first step in the process -- after the initial evaluation by the cosmetic dentistry specialist -- is the transitioning of natural teeth into posts onto which the crowns will be placed or installed. The creation of posts involves the drilling down or filing away of the natural tooth into the shape of a small “post.” It is the post to which the crown ultimately will be affixed.

Once the post is created, a temporary crown will be put in place. The temporary crown is necessary as it takes upwards to a week to ten days (sometimes longer) for a dental laboratory to create and fashion the permanent crown. The temporary crowns stops surrounding teeth from shifting during the period of time that the patient awaits the arrival of the permanent crown.

Once the permanent crown is crafted, the patient returns to the dentist’s office. At this juncture, the temporary dental crown or dental crowns are removed and the permanent dental crown or dental crowns are installed.

Costs for Dental Crowns

As with so many “things” associated with cosmetic dentistry, there is a significant variation in the costs associated with dental crowns -- depending on the type of material which comprises the crown (composite, gold or porcelain, for example) and other matters. With that said, a solitary crown installation can cost anywhere from $90 to $750 depending on the type of crown material utilized, location in which you reside in the country and other considerations.