Dental crown | Tooth crown procedure and costs
A dental crown is a dental restoration where caps are placed on top of the tooth.
What is a tooth crown?
In case when a tooth gets damaged due to injury, decay or something similar, a tooth crown is a very popular dental restoration technique. A tooth cap is being placed onto a reshaped existing tooth making it look more natural, and restoring its features like shape, gloss and functionality.
Dental crowns or fillings are a type of fixed prosthetic replacement that reconstructs the crown of a natural tooth.
Is dental crown the right dental restoration technique for you? Let’s find out!
Do you need a tooth crown?
A dental crown is an option only in case your existing tooth lost its attributes or functionality. Do not settle for this option in case you are satisfied with the look of your natural teeth.
What to think about before making dental crowns?
We advise you to think about the desired colour of future work, and whether you want a major aesthetic transformation before making crowns, especially if they will be in the aesthetic zone of a smile. It will depend on:
- How many teeth are in need to be covered with crowns or may be combined with veneers?
- Is it necessary to whiten other teeth beforehand?
- If you suffer from some form of bruxism (gnashing, clenching of teeth) it is important to inform the dentist about this problem before making crowns
- Namely, after cementing the crowns, it will be necessary to make a night shield or splint that will protect your teeth and crowns from damages
Treatments prior to dental crowns
Before the tooth crown treatment, your dentist will need to do a root canal treatment if your tooth has a damaged pulp, decay or any risk of infection.
Why should you decide to make dental crown?
Their production is indicated for major destruction of tooth crowns (e.g. broken crowns, darkened endodontic treated teeth additionally weakened by large fillings, for aesthetic reshaping of rotated or inclined teeth …).
In addition to aesthetics, with this type of restoration, we restore the strength of the tooth crown, preventing its further destruction and restoring its lost function.
How are crowns made?
Crowns are made in the dental laboratory based on the impression taken in the dental office. After their production in the dental laboratory, the crowns are cemented to a previously ground tooth, dental augmentation or implant, and covered like a cap.
Types of dental crowns
- Metal crowns
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal
- All-resin
- All-ceramic or all-porcelain
FEATURED TYPE OF DENTAL CROWNS
Non-metal zirconia crowns
Today we prefer crowns made of metal-free ceramics due to their biocompatibility and aesthetic superiority. Zircon – ceramic is one of the latest materials for the production of prosthetic replacements used in dentistry. If we talk about the most important criteria that crowns need to meet when restoring teeth, then these are biocompatibilities, functionality and aesthetics. Zircon – ceramics provide all three. Metal-free ceramics are made with computer technology (CAD / CAM), which achieves superior precision. In the case of metal-free ceramic crowns, the possibility of the appearance of dark edges is sometimes avoided, which is sometimes encountered in metal-ceramic crowns (due to the edge screening of the material).
They do not have the possibility of corrosion and release of metal particles. Zircon ceramic crowns are of excellent strength and breakage resistance. Because of their white colour, they transmit light in a way that best mimics our natural teeth and their transparency, thus ensuring superior aesthetics in terms of tooth appearance, because with zircon-ceramic crowns you will not notice whether they are real natural teeth or crowns, but only a bright smile…
How long does a tooth crown last?
Tooth crown lasts for about 15 years and in some cases, they can last up to 20 years.
What is the process of making a crown?
After the examination and diagnostics, which we use to determine whether the production of dental crowns is indicated for you, an agreement is made regarding the appearance of future work. and work plan and definition of terms and times of production and treatment.
First visit to a dental specialist
Process of teeth grinding
Teeth grinding to make a crown means reducing the volume of tooth mass so that there is room to make an artificial ceramic crown that will fully function functionally and aesthetically after cementation on the tooth. In the same visit, after grinding, prints of your in-mouth situation are taken and an aesthetically acceptable makeshift crown is made. The impression is sent to the dental laboratory where the crown will be made.
On the next visit, the finished crown is tested, if you are satisfied with it, it is immediately cemented. If there is a need for correction, it is returned for finishing in the dental laboratory.
When the lab gets an imprint it starts with designing your teeth and smile. As a result of their work, we get temporary crowns as a simulation of the future shape of your teeth. The lab takes one to five days, which is the period until your future arrival at the office.
Second visit to a dental specialist
Temporary crowns
During this visit, we will try temporary crowns that simulate future teeth. In this way we have together (therapist and patient) the opportunity to experience a possible look, to comment on whether we like or would like to change something. This will take 20 to 45 minutes. Sometimes, in simpler words, this phase is not even necessary.
Then again there is a period of one to five days in which the laboratory makes your future crowns in the same shape as they were during the simulation. Production of ceramic crowns with CAD-CAM technology and final production of crowns.
Third visit to a dental specialist
Permanent crowns
The third and final step is the step in which the crown is permanently fixed. This visit lasts from 20 to 90 minutes and after that, you have a quality and long-lasting solution for a more beautiful smile. The crown (or crowns, if we make more than one) is cemented when you are completely satisfied with it.
How long does the process of making a tooth crown take?
The duration of the whole process of making crowns from grinding to their cementation takes about 10 days on average, but if necessary, they can be completed in 4 to 5 days.
How long do you need to come to the dental practice?
During this time you need to come 2 to 3 times to the dental office.
Dental crown care - our recommendations
- Do not eat for an hour after cementing the crowns
- When the anaesthesia subsides, mild pain and hypersensitivity to thermal stimuli (hot, cold) are possible. This sensitivity is normal and usually disappears after one to two weeks.
- Follow proper oral hygiene, use a soft brush and gently massage the gums
- A few days after cementation, it is recommended to pay extra attention to the care of the gums (eg: use Gengigel). Feel free to floss.
- Approximately seven days after the cementation of the crowns, a check-up is required. It is extremely important to determine e.g. possible premature contacts in the bite or sliding movements, due to soft tissue response, due to possibly still present sensitivity and toothache and the like.
- It is important to strictly follow the instructions of your dentist to make your crowns last as long as possible.
Dental crown cost, prices and average prices
The cost of a dental crown depends on the type of tooth crown material and a country where you decide to do the treatment.
Prices in US for different types of dental crowns per tooth:
- Metal crowns cost 600$ to 2500$
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal costs 500$ to 1500$
- All-ceramic costs from 800$ to 3000$
- All-resin crowns cost from 400$ to 1300$
- Zirconium crowns cost 100$ to 3000$
Prices in Europe for different types of dental crowns per tooth:
- Metal crowns cost 400€ to 1000€
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal costs 300€ to 1000€
- All-ceramic costs from 450€ to 850€
- All-resin crowns cost from 200€ to 800€
- Zirconium crowns cost 550€ to 900€
Dental Center Sarajevo is a pioneer in Dental tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through our blogs, we want to raise awareness of the importance of dental tourism, dental treatments, dental procedures and dental health in general.
Our service is a unique opportunity for anyone who likes to travel but is as well in need to improve dental health. All inclusive dental vacation packages are uncommon and we pride ourselves as the clinic that offers premium dental service to our clients and above all, offers an unforgettable experience.
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