Dental Crowns – Willow Park, TX
Repairing Your Child’s Decayed or Damaged Teeth
Even if your child is super careful with their teeth, sometimes they can get hurt. They might get holes or break from accidents – it happens to lots of kids. But guess what? Your child doesn’t have to keep their pearly whites like that. At Stroud Pediatric Dentistry, we can repair your little one’s smile with dental crowns in Willow Park! These restorations will help keep your child’s teeth safe and make them look beautiful once again. If you want to learn more about dental crowns, just keep reading or give our office a call today.
What Is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is like a special cap for your tooth. If a tooth is damaged or needs extra help, the restoration is placed on top to make it strong again. It can be made from natural-looking materials, like porcelain, to ensure they blend seamlessly with the remaining teeth. If a baby tooth needs repair, we’ll use stainless steel crowns to protect it until the permanent tooth erupts.
A crown is a great option if your child has:
- A tooth with a big cavity that needs extra help
- A broken tooth that needs to be strong again
- A tooth that had a root canal before
- A dental bridge that needs something to hold it
The Process of Getting a Dental Crown
Getting a pediatric dental crown is a step-by-step process that ensures the tooth's strength and appearance are restored. During the initial consultation, our team at Stroud Pediatric Dentistry will discuss different crown materials and help you choose wisely.
The process begins with taking impressions of your child’s teeth and preparing the damaged tooth for the crown. A temporary crown will be placed to safeguard the tooth and give you a sense of what having a crown will be like. This temporary crown will stay in place until the custom crown is ready.
In a dental lab, skilled technicians will custom-craft the crown, a process that generally takes a couple of weeks. Once we receive the crown, your child will return for the final placement. In the end, they’ll have a strong and natural-looking tooth that functions just like normal!
Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown
Pediatric dental crowns are superheroes for little smiles! They're like special caps that fix broken or weak teeth. These strong and safe crowns make teeth healthy again and look just like the real ones. With a custom-fit crown, kids can eat, talk, and play without worries. Whether it's protecting a tooth after a cavity, supporting a dental bridge, or making a tooth look great, these crowns are the kid-friendly solution for a happy and healthy smile.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns
When your child is recommended for a dental crown to protect a broken or decayed tooth, one of the first questions that is likely to come to mind is “How much will it cost?” We understand that you want to do everything possible to safeguard your child’s smile, and we recognize the financial responsibility can be overwhelming to navigate. This is why our team is here to not only break down the cost of dental crowns but also go over your dental insurance benefits and ways to lower out-of-pocket expenses with CareCredit.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns
At Stroud Pediatric Dentistry, our team will need to conduct a thorough examination of your child’s smile before determining how best to proceed and how much treatment will cost. The path used to protect your little one’s tooth is likely to look different than what we might recommend for another child, so the price is unlikely to be the same.
Some of the factors we will consider as we look at placing a dental crown include:
- The severity of the damage and whether additional treatments are required first (i.e., root canal or pulp therapy)
- The kind of material that will be used to create the crown (i.e., natural-looking porcelain or stainless steel)
- How the dental crown will be created (in-house or in a local laboratory)
You might be tempted to go with the cheapest option; however, it’s important to remember that this is not always the best option. Ensuring your child’s crown is high in quality is essential if you want it to last as long as possible.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?
Yes, most dental insurance companies will agree to pay a portion for dental crowns. In many cases, treatment should be covered up to 50% of the total cost; however, this is not always the case. It’s crucial that you review your plan before agreeing to start treatment, as some policies may not provide as much or any additional coverage. You can count on our team, however, to confirm your benefits before moving forward.
Other Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable
We understand that not having a private dental insurance plan can be concerning when it comes to your child needing dental care; however, there are other ways to pay for treatment without incurring a financial headache.
At Stroud Pediatric Dentistry, we are pleased to partner with third-party financier CareCredit. Here, you can enroll in one of their available payment plans that allows you to break up the price of your child’s dental crown into monthly payments. This makes it easier to avoid high upfront costs and instead remain within your budget.
If you need help to manage the cost of your child’s dental crown, do not hesitate to reach out to our dental office. A member of our team will be happy to help.
Dental Crown FAQs
Are Dental Crowns Permanent?
Dental crowns are permanent in the sense that they’re made to last. However, daily wear and tear will eventually take its toll. Depending on how well your child cares for their crown, the restoration could last anywhere between 5 and 15 years. Make sure your little one brushes their teeth twice per day, flosses at least once daily, and visits us for biannual checkups and cleanings. This will help their crown stay stronger for longer – and save you money on frequent repairs!
Do Dental Crowns Get Cavities?
Unlike your child’s natural teeth, their dental crown can’t develop cavities. The bacteria that cause tooth decay specifically target enamel and other dental layers, not tooth-colored materials or stainless steel. However, your kiddo isn’t off the hook for routine oral hygiene! The remaining portion of their natural tooth, which sits underneath their crown, is still at risk for decay in a sugary, bacteria-filled environment.
Does It Hurt to Get a Dental Crown?
We’ll be sure to administer an effective anesthetic to keep your child’s mouth numb. Most patients are pleasantly satisfied with the anesthetic, but we do offer sedation dentistry for nervous kids and for children with special needs.
If your child mentions that their tooth is sore, know that this is normal. Over the counter pain medication can help relieve the aches, and a cold compress can help numb the area. What could be cause for concern is if the tenderness lingers for several days or becomes severe. Then it’s time to call us for a prompt appointment!
What Can My Child Eat with a Temporary Crown?
A temporary crown is like a weaker version of your child’s permanent restoration. We place these types of crowns to keep their damaged pearly white safe while we wait for the dental lab to finish crafting the final product.
That said, your child will be able to chew comfortably – for the most part. There are certain foods they should avoid while wearing their temporary crown. Here’s a simplified list of what they shouldn’t eat:
- Sugar can travel between the small gap in the temporary crown and your child’s gumline, so treats and soda should be kept to a minimum.
- Overly hot and overly cold foods and drinks could weaken the temporary crown’s cement – and will likely not be pleasant to consume while their tooth is sensitive.
- Hard and sticky foods like caramel, ice, popcorn, and doughy breads can dislodge the crown entirely, so your child should definitely avoid these for a little while!