Note: This article is for general information purposes and does not replace individual dental advice.
Fitting a dental crown is one of the most widely used methods of replacing a missing or damaged tooth. However, this requires an intact tooth root, which either comes from the original tooth or has been placed artificially. As a rule, crowns are fixed directly onto the damaged part of the tooth.
Dr. Pantas, your dentist in Düsseldorf, usually fixes veneered and metal crowns in place with a special medical cement. With ceramic crowns, on the other hand, an adhesive is used. Alternatively, for particularly badly damaged teeth, a post crown is also an option if the crown would no longer hold properly on the tooth. Such posts are usually made of glass fibre or metal and are likewise fixed in place with resin.
Fitting crowns onto the tooth
Before a crown can be fixed onto a tooth, the tooth must first be prepared. This often means removing a considerable portion – up to 60% of the tooth – even if it is still healthy. The dentist has to work extremely carefully and precisely here in order not to cause any further damage. The dentist then takes an impression of the prepared tooth stump as a model and selects the right shade together with the patient. A dental technician subsequently fabricates the matching crown, which is likewise an elaborate and costly process.
In the interim, the patient is usually fitted with a temporary crown made of resin to keep the tooth stump protected. At a further appointment, the crown is then fitted and bonded under local anaesthetic. After a few weeks, one more check-up appointment is needed, at which the dentist verifies that the crown is still seated correctly and that everything is in order.
Types of crowns for the teeth
There are different types of crowns for our teeth – which of them is most suitable always depends on the individual case. Crowns are distinguished in particular by their size, function, extent and material. The way they are attached to the tooth also varies.
The so-called replacement crown is one of the most frequently used crowns. It is used above all in cases of more extensive tooth damage as a replacement for the natural tooth.
In addition, there is the protective crown, which is suitable for teeth whose stability is compromised by missing enamel. Here, a crown protects the often exposed dentine.
With both variants, a choice can be made between a partial and a full crown. While partial crowns are designed to cover only the damaged chewing surface, a full crown covers the tooth completely. Partial crowns make sense when a large part of the tooth structure is still healthy and is to be preserved. Full crowns are used when the entire tooth is so badly damaged that a partial crown is no longer sufficient.
Dental crown costs: how much does a dental crown really cost?
The cost of a dental crown is generally relatively high. The patient's own contribution for a crown averages between 400 and 1,000 euros – the remainder is covered by the statutory health insurance. Crowns that are not made of precious metals, by contrast, usually cost only between 300 and 500 euros. For a partially ceramic crown, you should expect costs of around 500 euros – for gold crowns, up to 700 euros. The most expensive option, however, is the all-ceramic crown, which comes closest to the natural tooth in appearance but can also cost up to 1,000 euros. Here it comes down to your own budget, but also to your personal expectations regarding the aesthetics of your teeth.
This article is for general information purposes and does not replace professional dental advice. If you have symptoms, please contact your dentist.
