Dental Crowns – Burien, WA

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that’s made of a resilient, lifelike material like EMAX ceramic or zirconia. They’re bonded over teeth that have cavities or sustained injury to protect them from additional harm. Plus, they allow you to continue to use your natural pearly whites to eat and speak. This treatment allows Dr. Lam to save your vulnerable natural teeth that might otherwise require extraction and replacement.

Dental crowns are also used to anchor dental bridges in place, cover a dental implant, shield a tooth that’s undergone root canal therapy, or cover a misshapen or severely stained tooth.

The Dental Crown Process

Before Dr. Lam can fit you for a dental crown, you must have a consultation appointment so he can verify whether you’re a good candidate. He’ll examine your mouth to determine whether it’s the best solution for you based on your circumstances.

If it’s determined that this is the best method to rebuild your grin, then our team will take X-ray images of the vulnerable tooth and surrounding jawbone. Next, Dr. Lam will remove a thin layer of enamel so that the crown won’t appear bulky compared to neighboring teeth.

Once that’s complete, we’ll take digital impressions of your tooth which builds a 3D blueprint that is sent to our chairside CEREC same-day crowns milling machine. As soon as your prosthetic is created, Dr. Lam will clean it and ensure that it fits properly before cementing it in place.

The Benefits of Getting a Dental Crown

There are many advantages to getting your dental crown in Burien, including:

• Improved articulation. You press your tongue to your teeth to form certain words and sounds and when one is missing, you may develop a lisp or other issues enunciating. Your dental crown refills your grin so you can speak more normally.
• Prevent potential problems. Your dental problem won’t resolve itself and will only get worse in time. It could sustain additional cracks or breaks or spread infection to your neighboring teeth or jawbone. Covering it ensures that it remains safe from additional harm.
• Enhanced appearance. One of the first things that people notice about you is the condition of your smile and if yours is full of holes, you might become overly self-conscious. Filling the gap restores your sense of self-confidence.
• Long lasting results. Dental crowns can last 15+ years with the right care and are made of durable materials that resist chips and stains.
• Simple maintenance. Taking care of your restoration is as easy as brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily and having a dental checkup every 6 months.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Crowns

Even though dental crowns can be the exceptional solution you need for repairing a decayed or damaged tooth, you’ll want to know about their price before moving forward with the treatment. During your initial consultation, our team will walk you through the entire process as well as how much you’ll have to pay depending on various factors revolving around the procedure. Keep reading to learn more about the cost of dental crowns in Burien and your available financing options to help you minimize your out-of-pocket expenses.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Dental Crowns

Some of the biggest contributing factors to the overall price of your dental crown treatment include things like the level of damage or decay your tooth has suffered and the types of materials used to construct your restoration(s). We will thoroughly evaluate your situation and consider these aspects to create a more accurate estimate for the price of your procedure.

When you arrive at our office for an initial consultation, our team will examine your affected tooth via a visual assessment and digital imaging. This will provide us with a clearer look at the issue while we develop the proper method or treatment plan that best resolves your specific situation.

If you need to undergo a root canal treatment to address severe decay or require a dental implant to help rebuild a missing tooth, then these procedures can add to the total cost of your care. The materials used for our crowns will typically involve E-max and zirconia—both of which come with their separate prices.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Crowns?

Dental crowns are typically considered by dental insurance companies as essential for oral health care, so you’ll usually expect the procedure to receive some coverage. The amount involved the majority of the time can be anywhere from 50-80% of the entire price, so it’s always best to make the most of your benefits while you can. Of course, every insurance plan will be different, so you’ll need to speak with your provider for the details of your policy. We also have a team of experts on this matter who can help you navigate your benefits as well as file claims on your behalf.

Options for Making Dental Crowns Affordable

Even if dental insurance isn’t in the books for you, it wouldn’t automatically be the end of the line. Our team wants to ensure that every patient has the best chance to get the care they need when they need it most. That’s why we offer an in-house membership plan that offers discounts on various treatments that we provide. You might even consider signing up for CareCredit—a third-party financier that can turn the entire price of your procedures into monthly installments with little-to-zero interest attached.