Dental Crowns

Modern porcelain crowns are designed to blend in seamlessly with your natural teeth. At Semidey Dental, crowns are precisely coordinated to blend in with the color, shape, and size of your adjacent teeth. The majority of people won’t notice you have a crown unless you mention it.

The process is typically very comfortable. The area is numbed during preparation, so you won’t feel pain while the tooth is being shaped. After the appointment, you might experience mild sensitivity for a few days, but this usually fades quickly and can be managed with over-the-counter products.

Getting a crown usually takes two visits. The first appointment concerns designing the tooth and placing a momentary crown. The second visit, once the permanent crown is ready, involves placing and adjusting it. The time between visits can vary depending on the lab, but it’s typically a couple of weeks.

A temporary crown protects your tooth while your permanent one is being made. It’s not as strong as the final crown, so you’ll want to avoid sticky, hard, or chewy foods on that side. Brushing and flossing gently will help keep it in place until your next appointment.

Once your permanent crown is placed and adjusted, you can return to your normal diet. It’s still a good idea to be mindful of very hard foods like ice or hard candies, as these can damage both natural teeth and crowns over time.

After a short adjustment period, most patients say their crown feels just like a natural tooth. Your bite will be checked and adjusted if needed to ensure everything feels comfortable when you chew or speak.

Fillings are ideal for smaller areas of decay, but when a tooth is significantly weakened, a filling may not provide enough support. A crown covers the entire tooth, helping restore strength and prevent further damage or fractures that could lead to tooth loss.

Yes, crowns can improve the appearance of teeth that are severely discolored, worn down, or uneven in shape. In cases where veneers aren’t suitable, crowns offer both cosmetic enhancement and structural support in one solution.

Yes. Dental restorations don’t decay like natural teeth. However, the tooth beneath the crown remains vulnerable to cavities and other forms of decay. For this reason, it is important to remain vigilant about brushing and flossing. Take extra care when cleaning at the gum line. We can demonstrate proper cleaning techniques and provide samples of oral care products for you to take home.

Contact us right away. Remove any parts of your crown that may have broken off in your mouth. Rinse your mouth with a saltwater solution to soothe and sterilize the area. When you call us, we can also advise on ways to address any sensitivity or discomfort that may result from damage to this protective covering.

It depends on the type of damage. For small chips or cracks, we can strengthen the affected area with dental bonding material. If you have a more significant fracture or large crack, we will likely need to replace the crown. While our crowns are durable, they can wear over time. If not replaced promptly and as advised, it can damage the underlying tooth structure, potentially leading to the loss of the affected tooth.

We can advise on specific steps. In general, it’s important to store the crown in a safe place (like a Save-a-Tooth® container – a perfect addition to any dental first-aid kit). Do not try to re-cement the tooth yourself, and by no means should you try to glue it back on! When you arrive at our dental office, Dr. Alex or Dr. Sara can recement the tooth properly, using professional products and techniques. We’ll inspect the crown for any cracks or damage. Crowns can be securely reattached to your tooth as long as they remain intact and in good condition.

The cost of a crown varies based on factors such as the material used to make it. Our treatment recommendations are based on what is most appropriate for you, including the location and function of the tooth being crowned. While important, cost should not be the driving factor behind your decision. Some materials may offer better value over the long term, as they last longer and may be more appropriate for your situation. 

Crowns used for cosmetic purposes (such as to cover up a very misshapen tooth) are generally not covered by dental insurance plans. If your crown is deemed a medical necessity, then at least a portion of your treatment should be covered as “major restorative dental work.”

We understand that insurance does not apply in all instances. In these situations, you can finance your crown through Sunbit. Financing can also help with any out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance. It can also be helpful for our patients without dental insurance. Semidey Dental encourages you to enroll in our Smile 365 Membership Plan as an alternative to traditional dental insurance. For a predictable annual fee of $1 per day, you receive 30% off dental crowns, and many of the preventive services necessary for a healthy, beautiful smile are also covered. Give us a call to find out more!