Custom Dental Crowns in Rochester, NY for Strength, Protection, and Natural Aesthetics

FAQs

How do I know I need a dental crown?

There is a number of clinical indications for which a dental crown would be the most optimal solution. Obviously, if you have had a dental implant, it needs to be capped by a dental crown. We would discuss the specifics of this at the time of planning the implant surgery. Aside from dental implants, some more typical indications would be a severely damaged tooth, beyond what a simple filling could repair. This could be large cracks and cavities, post-root-canal treatments, misshapen or discolored teeth, although in the latter case other, less invasive methods may be available, too. Depending on the extent and location of damage or treated area, a partial crown could be a more practical choice. These crowns, also sometimes called onlays, cover only a part of the tooth, allowing to retain much of the tooth's natural shape.

Every situation is different and would require our expert dentists Dr. Anna Belous or Dr. Adriana Palacio to carefully examine you, asses the digital X-Rays and then make an informed diagnosis. We would then work with you to come up with  a treatment plan that suits your needs, your goals and your financial situation.

How long do dental crowns last?

Dental crowns can last 10–15 years or longer with proper care and regular dental visits. The actual life-span of a crown depends on many factors. Some you can control and others you cannot. The first factor that you can definitely control is that you want this procedure performed by a dentist who specializes in restorations and has done thousands of similar procedures throughout their career. At our office you would be in safe and experienced hands of Dr. Anna Belous and Dr. Adriana Palacio - the sought-after expert restorative dentists in the Rochester, NY area.

Another factor that is within your control is following the recommended treatment plan, which would be designed with long-term clinical success objectives in mind. Both doctors practice with the clinical outcomes philosophy in mind. So, choosing the recommended plan is a sure way to secure long-lasting results.

Yet another factor that is in your control is the post-treatment self-care. If you brush and floss regularly, follow through with your regular dental cleanings and exam hygiene appointments, chew mindfully, avoid excessive pressure on the crown tooth and address habits like grinding and clenching, which we can also help you do with dental retainers and night-guards, then you can definitely extend the life of your dental crown by many years.

With all that said, some factors affecting the longevity of your dental crown may not be in your control. It's things like the exact shape and location of the crown, how much mechanical stress it naturally needs to sustain, the integrity of the tooth to which the crown is bonded and other factors. Again, we will help you make the right decision, with all things being considered.

How are crowns made? What materials are used? Are they biocompatible? Do they yield natural-looking results?

All crowns are custom-designed to match the color, shape, and size of your natural teeth. We work with carefully hand-picked, state-of-the-art dental labs that use the most innovative manufacturing technologies. Yes, it may take a couple of weeks of waiting, as opposed to going with those dental offices offering same-day, in-house manufactured crowns, but with those you often get what you pay for... or less. We, on the other hand, rely on dental labs that have specialized, cutting-edge machinery that would hardly fit in our office, even if we tried. All crowns are made from biocompatible materials. The materials used and the manufacturing process may very, depending on the type of crown.

Some are porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns, which feature a non-toxic metal inner core or thimble covered with a porcelain (ceramic) outer layer. They are extremely strong and durable, especially under heavy bite forces, making them suitable for back molars and pre-molars. Aesthetically, they are sometimes a bit more opaque. Others are all-ceramic (sometimes called all-porcelain, which is a specific type of ceramic) crowns, made entirely of zirconia, lithium disilicate / Emax (for high translucency) or other similar material. All of these materials are non-metal and non-toxic. These crowns are very strong, although they can be more brittle, depending on the exact material formulation. That is why Dr. Anna Belous and Dr. Adriana Palacio work with expert dental lab technicians to formulate the exact material depending on the location of the crown and its shape, assessing the predicted mechanical forces and the desired aesthetics. From the aesthetic perspective, the location and thickness of the crown and the tooth underneath it are assessed to formulate the material that will yield perfect translucency, allowing natural light to pass through for more lifelike appearance. This is ideal for front tooth restorations.

Is getting a crown painful?

Compassion and patient comfort is our top priority. The procedure is typically comfortable, and we offer local anesthesia and sedation dentistry for patients who prefer a more relaxed experience. We also understand that comfort is not just about pain-free treatment, and we offer a slew of amenities to ease your anxieties and help you relax, ranging from spa-like office atmosphere, to soothing ambient lighting, to ambient music and personalized audio and video entertainment, to noise cancelling and light dimming devices, to warm blankets and comforting pillows.

When is a crown better than a filling?

Neither treatment is inherently better or worse than the other. They are simply indicated for different clinical circumstances and this is why you have the experts - Dr. Anna Belous and Dr. Adriana Palacio - to carefully evaluate your particular case and make the best long-term clinical outcome determination and recommendation. Once the recommendation is made, we will work with you to come up with the most reasonable treatment plan. With all that said, generally speaking, a crown may be recommended when a tooth is too damaged or weakened to be restored with a filling alone. Fillings are carefully considered, however, as they require less treatment time and are certainly less costly than crowns.

Will I be able to afford a crown, if I need one?

Crowns are very commonly recommended treatments. They do often require considerable time in the treatment chair and there is usually a dental lab and a manufacturing process involved. So, naturally, cost is a consideration. Crowns are typically classified as major restorative care by most dental insurance plans, and as such are covered at certain percentage levels, ranging around 50-80% of the cost, after you meet your annual deductible. Cosmetic exclusions may apply, if a crown does not address medically necessary restorations from damage, decay or a weakened tooth. Some waiting periods may also apply for new plan enrollments. Also, many plans have annual maximum coverage caps, meaning once you reach that limit, you pay additional costs out of pocket, while Medicaid and Medicare do not typically cover routine dental crowns.

So, because every insurance is different and nuanced, we encourage you to talk to our amazing patient experience team, who will be happy to assist you with financially planning your treatment. We accept a broad range of insurances and can submit them to quickly verify your eligibility at the time of treatment planning, so that there are no surprises. We also follow our "access for all" philosophy that is rooted in believing that quality dental care should be available to everyone. That is why we go beyond insurance coverage and are often able to accommodate various payment plans with no and low-interest financing, for those that qualify.