
Tooth enamel is incredibly strong – even more so than bone – but your teeth can still become worn-down, weakened, or broken over the years. Luckily, you don’t have to suffer through chewing with a broken tooth any longer. At Cove Choice Dental, we can restore the tooth’s structure and protect it from additional damage by placing a customized dental crown on top of it. In some cases, these lifelike solutions can be designed, created, and placed in a single visit! Contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists and learn how dental crowns in Copperas Cove can revitalize your smile.
A dental crown is a sort of “cap” that protects a tooth by fitting over its entire structure that has emerged from the gums. No two crowns are exactly alike, as each one is personalized to snugly cover the tooth while also blending in with the rest of a patient’s smile. Traditionally, dental crowns were made from precious metals like silver and gold, but we prefer to use tooth-colored materials like ceramic instead. Often, these crowns are just as durable as metal ones without sticking out like a sore thumb in your grin.
Dental crowns are quite a versatile treatment. Your dentist in Copperas Cove may recommend a crown in order to:
After we’ve looked over your teeth, we can help you determine whether a dental crown is the ideal solution for your unique smile.
Most dental offices take two appointments to complete the crown process: one to take impressions, and another a few weeks later when the crown arrives from the lab. Not only does this method require you to take time out of your schedule to book two separate visits, but you also have to worry about caring for a temporary crown. When you visit Cove Choice Dental for a crown, though, you can typically receive your restoration on that very same day! All we have to do is prepare the tooth in question, capture impressions, wait for our in-house milling machine to craft your crown to your exact specifications, and cement it onto your tooth. The whole process only takes about an hour or two!
You can look forward to enjoying many benefits when you get a dental crown, such as:
While a dental crown may be the best way to restore your damaged tooth, it’s still reasonable to want to know what the treatment will cost before you commit to it. During your consultation, the staff at Cove Choice Dental will explain what your treatment process will entail as well as the associated costs. Here’s a brief guide to how dental crowns are typically priced at our Copperas Cove office, but please contact our staff if you have any questions.
The cost of your dental crown will be determined by several factors like:
When it comes to dental restorations, the cheapest option is not typically the ideal one. Crowns that will look great and function well for many years are best for your appearance and your oral health, and our staff will be happy to help you find a way to pay for your restoration that makes sense for you and your budget.
Most dental insurance plans consider dental crowns to be necessary restorative procedures and cover them at about 50%. However, the actual rate of coverage can vary considerably between dental plans, so our staff will be happy to help you go over your policy during your consultation so you can understand exactly what it will pay for.
We understand that many patients who need dental crowns may have some difficulty fitting their restorations into their budgets. That’s why we partner with CareCredit, a trusted third-party lender that can break the cost of your crown into small monthly installments that are easy to manage. We also accept Medicaid from qualifying patients.
The best way to receive a proper cost estimate for your dental crown treatment is to schedule a consultation at our office. During your visit, our staff will help you understand your insurance and financing options so you can find the best way to fit your appliance into your budget.
Historically, restorations like fillings and dental crowns were made from metallic materials that, though durable, weren’t necessarily biocompatible. These repairs could withstand the force of biting and chewing, but often made teeth look dark or gray and could cause sensitivity when exposed to hot and cold temperatures.
Today, our Cove Choice Dental team in Copperas Cove uses resilient ceramic to provide one-visit crowns the same day as your initial appointment. Not only is this material often equally as long-lasting as previous amalgam mixtures, but it can also be customized to match the shade, shape, and size of your natural teeth for more seamless results.
Many patients wonder whether dental crowns are intended to be frequently removed and reinserted for meals and cleanings the way dentures are. However, these restorations are not intended to be taken off once they’re cemented in place except by a qualified professional.
With that said, being fitted with one of these tooth-shaped caps involves an irreversible change to your grin. For it to fit correctly over the abutment tooth without seeming too large or bulky, our team must remove some of the enamel from the underlying tooth. This protective outer layer doesn’t grow back, meaning you’ll need to have a dental crown or some other appropriate restoration in place to continue using your tooth normally.
Your one-visit dental crown is made from resilient porcelain that, though porous, does not develop decay. You thankfully don’t have to worry that it’ll develop a cavity, though that doesn’t mean you no longer need to maintain your at-home dental hygiene routine. These restorations are dependent on the underlying teeth, which can indeed develop caries. If the enamel is damaged, it can weaken the tooth enough that your crown becomes destabilized or dislodged.
You can prevent this by brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily and scheduling routine checkups and cleanings with our team in Copperas Cove every six months.
Typically, you can expect your new tooth to remain in good condition for anywhere from 5 to 15 or more years, though it can depend significantly on your unique circumstances. Different factors that can potentially impact its longevity include:
I Need a Dental Checkup & Cleaning I Need a Dentist for My Child I am Worried About Bleeding Gums I Have a Cavity or Broken Tooth I am Missing One or More Teeth I am Unhappy with My Smile I am in Pain & Need Help I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed I Have Head/Neck/Jaw Pain View Our Services