Top Facts You Need to Know About the Cost of Dental Crowns — Before You Have One Done or Redone.
Picture this scenario — during your routine dental visit, your dentist delivers the news that you will need a crown on one of your teeth. Immediately the dollar signs start entering your mind and you wonder if insurance will cover some, if any, of the cost. Although dental crowns had cost several thousand dollars in the past, recent developments in dental technologies and materials have made treatment faster AND more affordable.
At Lake Lanier Smiles, we believe in delivering the highest level of quality care combined with affordable pricing. To learn more about the factors involved in tooth crown cost, please continue reading, or schedule an appointment today to meet with one our skilled dentists by calling (770) 831-0559.
Here are some of the major factors that go into answering the question, “What does a dental crown cost?”
1. The Type of Crown (What are the Types of Dental Crowns?)
How much a tooth cap (or crown) will cost will depend in part on the material used to fabricate your crown. Dental crowns can be made from a variety of materials, including ceramic, metal, porcelain fused to metal, and zirconia. Although metal alloy is the most cost-effective, it does not provide aesthetically-pleasing results.
For patients desiring the most realistic results, zirconia crowns are typically recommended as they have the most esthetic light-reflecting properties and are the most life-like. With these types of crowns we will shade-match it to blend beautifully with nearby teeth, and design it for durability and function. Accordingly, these zirconia crowns tend to come with a higher price tag. Porcelain fused to metal crowns, on the other hand, contains a metal base with a porcelain covering. While more attractive than metal alloy crowns, the metal has a tendency to cause the crown to gray along the gum line. It does, however, provide a more affordable investment than zirconia crowns. We often recommend that our patients have the esthetic zirconia crowns in the front of the mouth (anterior), and to consider porcelain-fused to metal or full metal crowns in the back of the mouth (posterior).
2. The Tooth Preparation and Buildup Required
Before a tooth crown certain procedures are required in order to properly prepare the tooth. This treatment typically involves taking x-rays or scans to determine the severity of the damage to the tooth, removing any unhealthy bacteria and cavities, replacing the missing tooth structure with a buildup, and shaping the tooth so that the crown fits comfortably on top of the tooth and seals properly. In some cases, a dental crown is required to complete a root canal procedure. The type of preparation required will all be factored into the overall cost and carefully explained to you beforehand to eliminate any surprise fees.
3. The Dentist’s Experience
The experience of the dentist will also be factored into the cost of your dental crown. A dentist with more experience and higher education has earned the right to charge more for his services and, in most cases, will deliver superior results compared to someone new to the dental industry. Having a qualified and highly trained dentist prepare your tooth and place your crown will significantly reduce your risk for complications and costly re-treatments.
4. The Technology Used
As different crown materials have different properties, they also have different costs associated with their fabrication. Certain crowns must be fabricated at a dental lab by trained technicians and require at least two office visits and a temporary crown before the final crown can be placed. With these types of crowns, the cost will include dental lab fees, temporary crown fees, and the cost of two office visits.
5. Costs of Dental Crowns with and without Dental Insurance
Whether or not you have dental insurance has a direct impact on the cost of any dental treatment, including any crowns. We work hard to try to help you maximize your dental benefits, and if you know you need a crown, please call us so we can help you determine what your benefits will cover.
If however, you do not have dental insurance, we encourage you to explore our membership plan or our crown specials, both of which we designed for patents who do not have dental insurance.
Dental Crown Costs at Lake Lanier Smiles
At Lake Lanier Smiles, our porcelain fused to metal crowns cost $699 and our zirconia crowns cost $799. These fees do not include the dental visit, x-rays, or cost of any preparatory procedures. During your consultation, we will outline the specific tooth crown costs to ensure you are able to budget accordingly.
