Crowns

About Dental Crowns

Despite diligent care and adequate maintenance, it's fairly common for the average person to experience dental problems to some degree. Occasionally these problems can escalate into fairly serious dental issues like broken teeth, dangerously weak teeth and teeth showing significant wear and tear. One of the most common procedures in treating these (and other) issues is the installation of a crown.

Often referred to simply as crowns, dental crowns are basically a cover, or cap used to treat a number of different dental issues that are typically not treatable with less extensive methods. Crowns differ from veneers because they are used primarily for serious and necessary dental repairs whereas veneers are typically utilized for cosmetic reasons. However, crowns can still greatly improve the appearance of your teeth depending on the material used. Once completed, they cover the entire exposed part of your natural tooth, completely masking any undesired blemishes.

The installation of a crown requires more time and investment than less extensive treatments like fillings. Crowns need to be custom made and fit for each individual patient and the tooth receiving the crown needs to be shaped for proper fitting and holding of the crown that will be placed on top. Crowns are used to treat several dental conditions including broken and severely chipped teeth, teeth in danger of breaking, cracked teeth and misshapen teeth. They are also used to support bridges and large fillings as well as for covering implants and stained/discolored teeth. Some situations require additional procedures like root canals and implants before a crown can be installed.

Crowns are available in a variety of materials and price levels, each offering different advantages, appearances and durability. Metal crowns made from materials like gold, alloy or chromium are generally considered the strongest and by far last the longest lasting, however they are the most expensive and least natural looking. Porcelain, ceramic and porcelain/metal-fused crowns are typically more natural looking and less expensive, however are more fragile.

Dental Crown Procedures Abroad

Crowns are a fairly expensive procedure in the realm of dentistry, however significant savings are available by taking advantage of a cheaper market via medical tourism. There is a good selection of destinations that can offer excellent work at varying levels of savings. European options include Poland, Spain, Ukraine and Turkey, popular destinations in the Americas include Mexico, Costa Rica and Argentina while Asian countries including Thailand, India, Malaysia and the Philippines can offer some of the greatest savings.