Dental Crowns Torrance
Complete Protection, Optimal Strength
Tooth enamel is the strongest substance in the entire body. However, it isn’t completely indestructible. Teeth can become damaged in all sorts of different ways, including decay, injuries, accidents, and more. Fortunately, we offer custom dental crowns in Torrance to protect your compromised tooth from additional harm. With our high-quality, tooth-colored materials, your crown will blend in with the rest of your smile. To learn more about dental crowns or to schedule an appointment with us, give us a call!
Why Choose Blue Coast Dental Group for Dental Crowns?
- Smiles Appear Completely Natural
- Dental Team That Ensures Positive Experience
- Advanced Dental Technology Produces Accurate Restorations
What Is a Dental Crown?
Dental crowns, or dental “caps” are custom-made to fit precisely over the chewing surfaces of damaged or weakened teeth above the gumline. They can be made from a variety of different materials, including porcelain. Crowns are generally recommended when patients have the following issues:
- Broken tooth requiring additional support
- Tooth that has undergone root canal treatment
- Severe decay being repaired with a large filling
- Dental bridge needing support from adjacent teeth
- Severely misshapen or discolored tooth
- Missing tooth being replaced with a dental implant
The Process of Getting a Dental Crown
Having a dental crown placed is relatively straightforward. Usually, it can be completed in two visits. The first step involves examining your smile to ensure that a crown is the best solution for you. Once this is confirmed by your dentist, a thin layer of enamel needs to be removed. This will create room for your crown to fit comfortably in your mouth with a natural appearance. An impression is then taken and sent to the dental laboratory where your crown will be crafted.
In the meantime, we will provide you with a temporary crown. This will protect your teeth and help you to become accustomed to how your new crown will feel. Once your restoration is ready, you can return to the practice where we will adhere it to your tooth using a special dental cement.
Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
Dental crowns provide numerous benefits. Here are just some of the ones that you can expect:
- Feels comfortable
- Appears natural
- Customized for you
- Prevents further damage
- Lasts 15+ years with proper care
- Improved ability to chew
- Increases confidence
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
If you need a dental crown in Torrance, you’ve likely considered the cost of getting your new restoration. Several factors can determine the overall price of treatment that our team at Blue Coast Dental Group will go over with you during your consultation. We’ll also provide you with a detailed cost estimate and discuss your payment options, so you know what to expect moving forward.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
Dental crowns can be crafted in a variety of materials and used to treat several different oral health concerns. Because of this, each one is customized to fit specific needs, and various factors will weigh into the final cost of your procedure. Some of these include:
- Additional Preliminary Treatments: More times than not, the placement of a dental crown is the last step of the process of restoring a tooth. In many cases, it’s done after root canal treatment, dental implant placement, or a filling. These treatments all incur separate, additional costs apart from the restoration itself.
- Materials: Some dental materials, while less costly, don’t last as long and may not resemble the natural appearance of tooth enamel as others do. Higher-quality materials like zirconia, ceramic, and porcelain, may be more costly but will provide the best long-term value.
- Location of Tooth That Requires the Crown: Because front teeth are more visible, those are often costlier to restore with dental crowns due to the level of precision needed to achieve the best result.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
Most dental insurance plans will cover at least a portion of the cost of dental crowns, usually at least 50 percent. Our practice is also in-network with several major dental insurance companies, including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and Delta Dental, which means that you can maximize your savings by coming to us for care. Even if you’re not in-network with our practice, we’re happy to file claims on your behalf to help maximize your reimbursement and get the most out of your coverage.
Options for Making Dental Crowns More Affordable
In addition to being an in-network provider with several major dental insurance companies, we offer other easy, flexible ways to pay:
- In-House Membership Plan: For $389 each year, you can receive steep discounts on all of your dental treatments as well as complete coverage for your annual routine preventive visits, including two checkups and cleanings each year. That way, instead of paying $1,782 for an all-porcelain dental crown, you’ll only pay $1,382.
- Additional Financing Through CareCredit: In addition to our in-house membership plan, we also work with trusted, third-party financier, CareCredit, to provide easy-to-manage monthly payment plans upon approval.
Dental Crowns FAQs
How long do dental crowns last?
The lifespan of your dental crown will depend on two main factors: the materials it’s crafted from and your dental hygiene. Typically, tooth-colored crowns crafted from materials like porcelain, ceramic, and zirconia can last anywhere between seven and 15 years. To help maximize the lifespan of your restoration, we recommend:
- Avoiding excessively hard, chewy, and sticky foods.
- Maintaining a good at-home dental hygiene routine.
- Visiting us every six months for checkups and cleanings.
- Never bite on any objects, like pencils, or try to open packages with your teeth.
- Protect your teeth from grinding with a customized nightguard.
If you notice your crown is damaged or has come off of your tooth, call our office immediately.
Do dental crowns feel natural?
At first, your dental crown will feel strange—like a foreign object in your mouth—and your tooth may feel sensitive. However, with time, this feeling should go away, and your permanent crown will feel like a natural part of your smile.
How long will I need to wear my temporary crown?
As our dental laboratory is crafting your permanent crown, we’ll place a temporary one onto your tooth to protect it. In most cases, patients need to wear their temporary restoration between two to three weeks. Because they aren’t designed to be as durable, you may need to limit your diet, being sure to avoid crusty bread, steak, popcorn, and other harder foods that could dislodge or damage your temporary crown.
Does getting a dental crown hurt?
Our team at Blue Coast Dental Group will make sure your procedure is comfortable and painless by first administering a local anesthetic to numb the area. This will be the case during the initial preparation of your tooth, and while you’ll likely experience some sensitivity, it shouldn’t be painful. If you’re especially nervous or anxious, we offer nitrous oxide and oral conscious sedation, which can help calm your nerves.
How Do You Know When a Dental Crown Needs to Be Replaced?
The lifespan of a dental crown can vary, but eventually, the time will come when it needs to be replaced. You may need a new restoration if your current crown has come loose or if it is noticeably damaged or stained.
That said, you’ll need a dental expert’s help to determine whether replacing a crown is truly necessary. During a consultation, your dentist can take a closer look at the crown to see what kind of condition it’s in. They’ll let you know whether a replacement is required or whether you can keep the current crown.
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
No, dental crowns cannot get cavities because they are not made out of natural enamel. However, the tooth underneath the crown is another story; it will still be at risk for decay even while it’s covered by a restoration. If you don’t practice good oral hygiene, harmful bacteria can find their way underneath the crown and attack the tooth.
To minimize your chances of developing a cavity, remember to give your dental crown the same attention that you give your natural teeth. Be sure to brush and floss the area around the restoration; do not overlook the point where the crown makes contact with the gums. You should also visit our practice every six months for a checkup and cleaning. This will give us a chance to check for signs of tooth decay.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Get a Dental Crown?
If you wait too long to have a dental crown placed, the issue that it’s meant to fix could easily grow worse. For example, an already cracked tooth could be damaged further if you continue to use it to chew your food. Additionally, harmful bacteria could enter the tooth and ultimately cause an infection. Eventually, the problem could become so severe that the tooth might need to be extracted altogether.
By having your dental crown placed as soon as possible, you can protect your tooth from further damage and keep more of your natural smile intact.
Is It a Dental Emergency If Your Crown Falls Off?
Losing a dental crown won’t put your tooth in immediate danger, and you can usually afford to wait a few days before seeing the dentist. That being said, it’s important to have the problem addressed in a timely manner; leaving the tooth exposed for too long could easily lead to decay or additional damage.
Remember to bring the crown with you when you visit the dentist. If it’s still in good condition, it may be possible to simply reattach it to the tooth. Of course, a crown that is badly damaged or missing will need to be replaced instead.