Dental Crowns in Durham, NC

A dental crown may be recommended if you:

• Have a large filling with little natural tooth structure left to support it
  
  
• Have cracked, fractured or badly worn a tooth
  
  
• Need to protect a tooth after root canal therapy
  
  
• Have a dental bridge that needs support on either side
  
  
• Want to improve the appearance of a discolored or misshapen tooth
  
  
• Need to restore a dental implant

The usual warning sign that a tooth is heading for a crown is a filling that keeps breaking, or a sharp twinge when you bite down and release again, which often means a crack that a filling will not hold together. If you are not sure whether you need one, compare it with the smaller options on our pages for dental fillings and dental inlays and onlays, or call (919) 220-5505 and we will take a look.

A conventional laboratory-made dental crown takes two visits:

1. Preparation visit: Dr. Imeni numbs the tooth, removes any decay or failing filling material, and shapes the tooth so the crown has room to seat correctly. A precise impression or digital scan is taken and a temporary crown is fitted to protect the tooth. Imaging such as CBCT 3D X-rays may be used where extra accuracy is needed.
   
   
2. Fitting visit: the temporary comes off, the permanent crown is tried in and checked for fit, shade and bite, then bonded or cemented into place.

How long does a dental crown take?

With a laboratory crown the two appointments are normally a couple of weeks apart, and you wear the temporary in between. If waiting does not appeal, a same-day crown removes both the second appointment and the temporary: the crown is designed and milled here in the practice and fitted before you leave.

Comfort during your appointment

Dental work makes plenty of people tense, so our Durham office is set up for it:

• Massage chairs and Netflix-enabled Apple TVs in treatment rooms
  
  
• Sedation options including oral sedation and nitrous oxide
  
  
• Digital imaging and laser technology for more precise, more efficient care

Dental Crowns Near You in Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh

We proudly serve patients from:

• Brier Creek
  
  
• Research Triangle Park
  
  
• Audubon Park
  
  
• Parkwood
  
  
• Chapel Hill
  
  
• Raleigh

Our practice sits on NC-55 in south Durham, a short drive from Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Brier Creek and Research Triangle Park, so reaching us is straightforward from most of the Triangle. You will find us at 5318 NC-55, Suite 101, Durham, NC 27713.

The right material depends on where the tooth sits in your mouth, how heavily you bite, and how completely the crown needs to disappear against the teeth next to it.

Porcelain and all-ceramic crowns

All-ceramic and all-porcelain crowns handle light in much the same way enamel does, which makes them the usual choice for front teeth and anywhere appearance matters most. They contain no metal, so no dark line appears at the gum line as gums recede over the years.

Zirconia crowns

Zirconia is considerably stronger than conventional porcelain and copes well with heavy chewing and grinding, which makes it a common choice for molars. Modern layered zirconia is far more translucent than the early opaque versions, so it can now be used further forward in the mouth than it once could.

E.max and lithium disilicate crowns

E.max is a lithium disilicate glass-ceramic that sits between the two: noticeably stronger than feldspathic porcelain while keeping most of its translucency. It is a frequent choice for premolars and for a single front tooth that has to match a natural neighbor convincingly.

Gold and porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns

Gold and other metal alloys are gentle on the opposing tooth and can be made very thin, so they preserve more of your own tooth structure. They are not tooth-colored, so they are generally reserved for back teeth. Porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns pair a metal substructure with a porcelain outer surface.

Dental crowns compared with fillings, inlays, bridges and implants

A filling replaces a small amount of lost tooth and relies on the healthy tooth around it for strength. An inlay or onlay covers more of the biting surface, but still not the whole tooth. A crown covers the entire tooth and takes the biting force itself, which is why it is recommended once there is not enough sound tooth left to hold a filling. Where a tooth is missing rather than damaged, a dental bridge or a dental implant replaces it, and a crown is the part that sits on top. Crowns are also the final restorative step in many smile makeovers.

How Much Do Dental Crowns Cost in Durham, NC?

There is no single price for a dental crown, because no two teeth need the same work. What moves the figure is the material chosen, and whether the tooth needs anything doing before the crown can be fitted, such as a root canal or a core build-up.

Because a crown restores a damaged tooth rather than altering a healthy one for cosmetic reasons, dental insurance commonly pays a share of it. We check your coverage with you and give you a written estimate before treatment begins, and Cherry Financing is available if you would rather spread the balance over monthly payments. Call (919) 220-5505 and we will go through the numbers for your tooth.

How much does a dental crown cost in Durham, NC?

The cost of a crown depends on the material used, whether the tooth needs any work before the crown is fitted such as a root canal or a build-up, and what your insurance plan covers. You are given a written estimate before treatment begins. Call (919) 220-5505 and we will check your coverage with you.

Does dental insurance cover a dental crown?

Many plans cover a share of a crown when it is restoring a damaged tooth rather than changing a healthy one for appearance. Coverage levels and annual maximums differ from plan to plan, so we verify your benefits and put the expected out-of-pocket figure in writing before you commit. Cherry Financing is available for the balance.

How long do dental crowns last?

A well-made crown on a well-maintained tooth commonly lasts ten to fifteen years, and often longer. What shortens that is decay starting at the margin where the crown meets the tooth, grinding, or using your teeth to open things. Brushing, flossing around the margin and keeping up with regular cleanings and exams does more for the life of a crown than the material it is made from.

How long does it take to get a dental crown?

A conventional crown takes two appointments, normally a couple of weeks apart, with a temporary crown in between. A same-day crown is completed in one appointment, because the crown is designed and milled in the practice while you wait.

Does getting a dental crown hurt?

The tooth is numbed before it is shaped, so the appointment itself is not painful. Most patients describe pressure and vibration rather than pain. Mild sensitivity for a few days afterwards is normal, particularly to cold. If you would rather be more relaxed for the visit, anesthesia and sedation options are available.

What is the difference between a crown and a filling?

A filling replaces a small amount of lost tooth and relies on the healthy tooth around it for strength. A crown covers the whole tooth and takes the biting force itself, which is why it is recommended when there is not enough sound tooth left to hold a filling, or after root canal treatment. Where a tooth cannot be saved at all, replacement with a dental bridge or a dental implant is the next option.

Can I get a dental crown in one visit?

Yes. We offer same-day crowns in Durham, NC using CEREC digital scanning and an in-office milling unit, which removes both the temporary crown and the second appointment. Not every tooth is best served that way, and Dr. Imeni will tell you which route suits yours.

Can a dental crown be whitened?

No. Crowns do not respond to whitening gel the way natural enamel does, so the shade is chosen when the crown is made and stays that way. If you are planning to lighten your teeth, complete any teeth whitening first, then have the crown matched to the new shade.