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Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
Dental Crowns – Fairfax, VA
Reliable Repair for Damaged Teeth
As much as possible, our team at MJM Family and Cosmetic Dentistry strives to preserve your natural enamel. Many times, this means that we can repair a cavity or cracked tooth with composite, tooth-colored fillings. However, when fillings aren’t enough to bring back a tooth’s strength and function, we use dental crowns. If you have a tooth in need of repair, give MJM Family and Cosmetic Dentistry a call to schedule an appointment. Let us help you have confidence in your smile again!
Why Choose MJM Family and Cosmetic Dentistry for Dental Crowns?
- High-Quality Materials Used for Each Restoration
- Experienced, Skilled Team of Dental Professionals
- Customized Care for Every Patient
What Are Dental Crowns?
Dental crowns are also often called caps because they cover the top portion of your teeth on all sides. These caps are made from dental porcelain, which is shaped to mimic real tooth structure. They are also shaded to match the surrounding teeth, so you and others may find it difficult to tell which are your natural teeth and which are restored.
Who Needs Dental Crowns?
This restoration is utilized in many situations, such as to do the following:
- Protect a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy.
- Complete a tooth that has been badly damaged by decay or injury.
- Reshape a small or misshapen tooth.
- Cover discoloration that can’t be fixed with teeth whitening.
- Restore a dental implant.
- Connect to prosthetic teeth in a bridge.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Crowns?
For many teeth, a dental crown is the last option before extraction. In other words, without dental crowns, thousands of patients every year would lose teeth that otherwise could be saved. In addition, dental crowns are crafted to look and feel just like natural tooth enamel. As a result, you’ll be able to feel confident letting your restored teeth show in a smile. Because the porcelain material is durable and strong, you can also eat a healthy diet without worrying too much about your restored teeth.
What Is the Process of Getting Dental Crowns?
Your experience depends on whether you’re getting a traditional crown or a CEREC same-day crown. Either way, the process starts with removing any damaged tooth structure or preparing the tooth for the crown. Then, we’ll take impressions of your teeth so that we can design the crown to fit your mouth perfectly. The traditional method of having a dental crown placed then requires sending the impression to a dental lab for fabrication. We’ll position a temporary crown while your permanent one is crafted. Then you’ll return once it’s complete. However, if it better suits your needs, we are able to create CEREC crowns right here in our Fairfax office, saving you time. We can help determine which type would be better for your smile.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
Perhaps you’d like to try dental crowns but worry about their price. That’s a fair concern – treatment doesn’t make sense, after all, if it exceeds your budget. In truth, though, the cost of dental crowns varies by patient; you’d need to consult our dentists for an estimate. Fortunately, MJM Family Dentistry will work to make your care affordable. To that end, our team will explain crowns’ financial details and possible payment options. If you want to learn more, just keep reading or call our office.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
At the crown consultation, our staff will perform an oral exam. This assessment lets us review factors that affect your crown’s cost. The most common of these factors include:
- Severity of Dental Damage – A lightly-damaged tooth only requires the crown itself. In contrast, a severely damaged one might need prep work first. (For example, the dentist could perform a root canal before crown placement.) For the latter case, your treatment expense will rise.
- Crown Material – As it happens, crowns range in price based on their materials. Our own are made of tooth-colored porcelain, which makes them a tad pricey.
- Crown Creation Process – A crown made with the traditional method is moderately-priced. Meanwhile, same-day kinds made with CEREC technology are more costly.
As your dentist explains these factors, remember that the cheapest crowns aren’t ideal. Quality is vital in oral care, while the least expensive options often don’t work well. With that said, make sure your choice of crown looks good, feels good, and lasts many years.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
Yes, actually - dental insurance usually does cover dental crowns. This fact stems from how crown placement counts as a major dental procedure. As a result, most plans will meet 50% of a crown’s cost if treatment is medically necessary.
Exceptions, however, can and do exist. There’s always a chance your dental plan doesn’t cover dental crowns or does so with special rules. Therefore, try to confirm your dental benefits before treatment. Our team can even help you with that process.
Other Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
Whether you have insurance or not, there are other ways to make crowns affordable. In particular, many dental practices offer helpful payment options for their services. At our own MJM Family Dentistry, for instance, we provide:
- Special Offers – Currently, our practice is running a special offer for first-time patients. For only $99, we’ll provide you with an oral exam, dental X-rays, and a teeth cleaning.
- Flexible Financing – We offer flexible financing through CareCredit, a third-party financier. That way, a patient can pay for dental crowns with monthly, low-interest installments. You’d then be able to cover their cost gradually instead of all at once.
As you can see, MJM Family Dentistry can help you manage crowns’ costs. So, learn more about crown financing by booking a consultation with us!
Dental Crowns FAQs
As one of the most versatile treatments in the field of dentistry, dental crowns are incredibly common. In fact, an estimated 15 million people in the United States currently have at least one crown. Even so, it’s normal to not be entirely clear on what to expect when getting dental crowns in Fairfax. That’s why we’ve taken the time to answer some questions about crowns that we get asked often. Of course, if you still have questions, feel free to schedule a consultation so that we can address your concerns in person!
Can Dental Crowns Be Whitened?
Dental porcelain cannot be whitened like natural teeth can. Tooth enamel contains microscopic pores through which dark-colored molecules in foods, beverages, and tobacco can enter and cause stains to develop. However, whitening products can also penetrate these pores and break up stains. Because porcelain is non-porous, neither discoloring molecules nor bleaching solutions can affect them.
In other words, dental crowns cannot be whitened, but they shouldn’t need to be. Your dentist in Fairfax will make sure that your crown is perfectly color-matched to the surrounding teeth for a flawless appearance.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Get a Dental Crown?
Placing a crown requires the tooth to be permanently reshaped, so most dentists won’t recommend a crown unless they deem it absolutely necessary for your oral health. For this reason, if we suggest that you get a crown, it’s best to get the treatment taken care of in a timely manner, even if your tooth isn’t bothering you at the moment.
By putting off getting a needed dental crown, you risk exposing your tooth to chewing forces, food debris, and harmful bacteria. This could worsen existing decay or damage. After enough time has passed, the tooth may need root canal therapy or even an extraction! These procedures are not only more invasive, but often more expensive as well. That’s why receiving a dental crown right away can benefit your natural tooth and your bank account!
Are Dental Crowns Safe?
Thanks to Dr. Murray’s advanced training in CEREC crowns, the process should be 100% safe. Unlike with traditional metal crowns, porcelain and zirconia crowns don’t contain any mercury or other toxins that could negatively impact your health. These materials are also significantly less likely to cause allergic reactions than metal crowns are.
In extremely rare cases, a patient may have an adverse reaction to porcelain, but again, the risk of this happening is slim to none. Still, definitely let us know immediately if you experience swelling, redness, or irritation in the nearby gums after receiving your crown.
Does It Hurt to Get a Dental Crown?
Before our dentists prepare your tooth for crown placement, they’ll make sure that section of your mouth is completely numbed by administering local anesthesia. As a result, you should barely feel anything during the process. Once the numbness wears off, though (which should happen a few hours after your procedure), your tooth might be sore or sensitive for a few days. To mitigate any discomfort, we recommend taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen, before the initial numbness subsides. Then, take it as needed until your tooth feels back to normal.
