Affordable Dental Crowns San Diego

Dental crowns and bridges are two of the more popular dental procedures when it comes to replacing or mending missing or damaged teeth. These fixed tooth prosthetics are a long lasting solution for either a damaged tooth or to cover a dental implant. University Dental Family Dentistry and Orthodontics in San Diego has dental crown and  on staff, ready to affix you with the crown or bridge you need.

Veneers cost $699 minimum of 6 teeth

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Dental crown installation process, Medically accurate 3d illustration

What is a Dental Crown?

A crown is a prosthetic tooth that is used to cover or cap a damaged or missing tooth. If the tooth is damaged, a crown can strengthen the existing tooth, improving the shape, alignment, and appearance of the tooth. One of the more common uses of a crown is to top a dental implant. The crown acts as the permanent tooth that will go on top of the titanium implant, providing you with a realistic looking and feeling tooth.

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Dental Crown FAQs

Different Types of Dental Crowns

At University Dental San Diego, we specialize in dental crowns, and below we breakdown each of the four primary types of dental crowns. If you are interested in learning more about dental crowns or would like to request a consultation, contact us today by calling (619) 473-2565

1. All-Ceramic Dental Crown
A ceramic crown is a perfect remedy for missing or damaged front teeth. These porcelain-based crowns make it easy to match the color of your teeth, providing you with a crown that is nearly indistinguishable from the rest of the tooth or the surrounding teeth. While the color is nearly identical to your existing teeth, the strength of a ceramic crown is not, as they are not as strong as other crowns. The crown can also cause damage to the teeth opposite them, and the installation of the crown may require the dentist to remove more of your existing tooth. All of these factors make porcelain crowns a great solution for your front teeth, but not so much for all of your other teeth.

2. Porcelain Fused to Metal Dental Crown
When porcelain and metal are fused together, it proves to be a much stronger crown then with porcelain alone. This crown will work to provide strength to the tooth, as well as work to prevent any signs of leaking fluid or tooth decay. Best of all, despite metal being used to secure the crown to the tooth, the color of the crown can still be matched to the color of the surrounding teeth. However, in some cases, the metal in the crown can show through the porcelain exterior as a thin line. Porcelain fused to metal dental crowns can also have the porcelain portion break or chip.

3. Metal Alloy Dental Crown
These crowns are made of metal alloys, mainly gold, copper, and other strong materials. The best thing about these dental crowns is that metal is largely resistant to wear and tear, staying in tip-top shape. Metal alloy crowns also do not wear down the teeth opposite them and are very compatible with your gum tissue. The major downside of the alloy crown is the color, as the shiny metallic color will not at all match the color of your teeth, making the presence of your crown obvious when you open your mouth.

4. All-Resin Dental Crown
The all-resin dental crown is the most affordable option, but you tend to get what you pay for with these crowns. They wear down very quickly and are also more likely to break than other crowns.

What is the Difference Between Crowns and Veneers?

Dental crowns and veneers produce two very similar results, in that they lead to a healthy and full smile. However, the purpose of a crown and veneer are quite different. While a crown encases the entire tooth, a veneer only covers the front of the tooth. This is because veneers are typically a strictly aesthetic procedure, while crowns are attempting to fix deep seeded dental issues. Crowns are much thicker and require tooth reduction to be fitted over a tooth, while veneers are thin and do not require much reduction.

What is the procedure for a dental crown

University Dental in San Diego is happy to provide the step by step dental crown procedure, helping to educate potential future patients about the details of the procedure.

The Step by Step Dental Crown Procedure

Two visits to the dentist are needed to complete the dental crown process. Below we will detail the step by step dental crown procedure, starting with the first visit:

1. The damaged tooth will be thoroughly examined. Your dentist will take X-rays of the tooth and the surrounding bone to observe the extent of the damage.
2. Based on the examination, the best treatment method will be determined. For example, if your dentist determined that the pulp of the tooth is at risk for infection, a root canal may need to be completed prior to placing a crown.
3. If a dental crown is determined to be the best treatment option, the top and sides of the tooth will be filed down to clear space for the crown. If too much of the tooth is already missing, then some material will be used to fill the missing space in order to properly place the crown.
4. Once the tooth is filed down to the proper size, an impression of the tooth is made. The impression is a copy of the damaged tooth that will be receiving the crown, usually made using putty or a paste. Impressions will also be made of the teeth above and below the damaged tooth to make sure that the crown presents no issues to your natural bite.

Once the impressions are complete, your dentist will likely fashion a temporary crown to wear during the time between the first visit and the second visit. Once the visit is complete, the impressions will be sent to a lab and a permanent crown will be made based on the impressions. It usually takes around two to three weeks to complete the crown, and once the permanent crown is ready you will be called in for the second phase of the dental crown process.

During the second visit:

1. To prepare you for placement of the permanent crown, the temporary crown will be removed.
2. The permanent crown will be compared to the rest of your teeth, making sure the size, shape, and color of the crown match the rest of your teeth as well as the existing damaged tooth.
3. If the crown looks like a match, your dentist will apply a numbing agent to the tooth and the area surrounding the tooth to minimize any discomfort.
4. The permanent crown is cemented into place, giving you a perfect replacement tooth.

Affordable Dental Crowns at University Dental San Diego

If you are in need of a dental crown or bridge in San Diego, the place to go is University Dental Family Dentistry and Orthodontics. Our team has years of experience with every kind of crown or bridge and access to the best dental technology to make every procedure a breeze. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation in regards to a dental crown or bridge, contact University Dental today. Give us a call at (619) 582-4224.