During your routine dental visit, the dentist delivers the news that you will need a crown to protect your tooth. Immediately the dollar signs start entering your mind and you wonder if insurance will cover some, if any, of the cost. Although in years past tooth crowns have cost several thousand dollars, recent developments in technologies and materials have made treatment more manageable.
At Lake Lanier Smiles, we believe in delivering the highest level of quality at affordable pricing. To learn more about the factors involved in tooth crown cost, please read on, or schedule an appointment today to meet with one our skilled dentists by calling (770) 831-0559.
Type of Crown
The tooth crown cost will depend 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, or zirconia. Although metal alloy is more cost-effective, it does not provide aesthetically-pleasing results. For patients desiring the most realistic results, zirconia crowns are typically recommended. Your crown will be shade-matched to blend beautifully with nearby teeth and be designed for durability and function. Zirconia crowns tend to come with a higher price tag. Porcelain fused to metal crowns 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.
Preparation Required
Before a tooth crown is placed, patients will require certain procedures to prepare the tooth. This typically involves x-rays and scans to determine the severity of damage, removing any unhealthy bacteria, and trimming the tooth so the crown fits comfortably on top. 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.
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 retreatments.
Technology Used
Certain crowns must be fabricated at a dental lab by trained technicians and will require at least two office visits and a temporary crown before the crown can be placed. With the type of crowns, the cost will include dental lab fees, temporary crown fee, and the cost of two office visits. However, if your dental office has in-house technology to fabricate a ceramic and zirconia crown, your crown can be completed in one office visit, eliminating the need for a dental lab, temporary crown, and multiple appointments.
At Lake Lanier, our porcelain fused to metal crowns cost $699 and our zirconia crowns cost $799. This does not include the dental visit, x-rays, or cost of any preparatory procedures. During your consultation, we will carefully outline the tooth crown cost to ensure you are able to budget accordingly.
