What is a crown?
A crown is a dental restoration that, when cemented into place, covers the portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line. Crowns are generally used when you've had a root canal, a damaged tooth, or when a standard filling won't give enough support to the tooth structure.
What is a crown made of?
Crowns can be made of several types of materials. These materials are often referred to as base, noble and high noble metals.
These metals are sometimes used alone or porcelain can be applied over to give the crown a more natural appearance. Covering metal crowns with porcelain creates a more organic-looking crown and is typically reserved for your front teeth.
Prior to receiving your permanent crown, your dentist will create a temporary crown. This temporary crown will cover a tooth until the permanent crown can be fitted as a complete crown takes a few weeks to fabricate.
What can a crown cost?
It’s important to know that a crown usually requires more than just the “cap”. Other procedures may be required, such as a post, core build up, a pin and/or lab fees. Often times, when a root canal is needed, that cost should be factored in as well. Your co-payments or coinsurance levels are listed in your schedule of benefits. Your dentist will provide you with a treatment plan and can explain why each procedure is necessary to restore your tooth. If you need assistance understanding this treatment plan, our member services team is available to help you at 1.877.760.2247
Caring for your crown:
Crowns typically last between 5 and 15 years. The life span of a crown is impacted by the amount of "wear and tear" the crown is exposed to, and how well you follow good oral hygiene practices. It is important to avoid grinding or clenching your teeth, chewing ice, biting your fingernails, and using your teeth to open packaging. As with natural teeth, you should continue to follow good oral hygiene practices, including brushing and flossing, particularly around areas where the gum meets the crown.
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