Closing an Unattractive Gap between Your Two Front Teeth

Getting dental work can be scary. There are dozens of options, and many of them are quite pricy. You don't want to pay top dollar for something that you will end up regretting. It's important to understand the pros and cons of each choice before you open your wallet and your mouth to take the plunge. If you're considering getting a dental crown to fix a damaged tooth, here are the benefits and risks of getting a crown.

Benefits

Natural Appearance

Dental crowns can be made of many different materials; however, porcelain crowns are a common choice. The porcelain looks like a natural tooth and no one will ever know that it isn't your real tooth unless you tell them.

Comfortable

Before you receive your crown, your dentist will take a mold or do a 3D scan of your mouth. The mold or scan allow a crown to be made specifically for your mouth. The crown will be the size and shape that your tooth used to be or should be. The natural fit will make your crown comfortable, so it won't feel like you had any dental work done.

Long-Lasting

Dental crowns can last a long time. As long as you take proper care of your crown, it should last 15 years or more. To keep your crown from wearing too soon, make sure you don't chew on hard objects such as ice cubes, and brush and floss regularly. If you take good care of your teeth, your crown might last up to 30 years.

More Confidence

If you have low self-confidence because of your teeth, getting a dental crown will make you feel better in public. You can talk to people without worrying about them seeing your damaged tooth, and you can feel proud smiling for pictures.

Disadvantages

Damaging to your tooth

If you are covering up a tooth that you don't find attractive, but it's not actually damaged, the preparation for your crown will damage your tooth. Your dentist will have to grind away layers of your tooth to fit your crown on top of it, so once you get your crown, you won't be able to just have it removed if you change your mind. If you do, you'll be left with a damaged tooth after the fact.

Expensive

Dental crowns are relatively expensive. The cost depends on the materials used and your insurance. However, not counting insurance, you're looking at about $800 to $3,000 per tooth for a porcelain crown. If you opt for a metal crown that is fused with porcelain, it will bring the cost down to anywhere between $500 to $1,500 per tooth.

Several Appointments

Unless you find a dentist with a 3D printer, you are looking at several appointments to get your crown. First, you will go to the dentist for a consultation to see if a crown will be a good fit for you. After you and your dentist decide to go for the crown, your dentist will need to mold your mouth and send the mold to a lab to have your crown made. Once the crown comes in, you will go back to the dentist to have your tooth prepped and your crown fitted. You will likely need to return for one or more visits to check the crown and make sure it's staying in place and working well for you.

A dental crown is a great way to fix a damaged or unattractive tooth. It will provide you with a natural-looking tooth so you don't have to feel self conscious about your smile. If you are covering a damaged tooth, the crown will protect it and keep exposed nerves from becoming painful. If the cost isn't an issue and you have the patience for a few appointments, talk to your dentist about having a dental crown put on.

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