Dental Crowns in Chattanooga

$797 is the price for a crown. Oftentimes a build-up, or a repair of the broken-down part of the tooth, is also needed, and this is $97. Build-ups allow for proper shaping of the tooth, which allows the permanent crown to seat properly. Please click here for our Price List.

The first appointment is to either look at the whole mouth(Comprehensive Exam) or just look at a particular problem that you have(Limited Exam). Dr. Wilkinson’s first question is always: “What do you want?” Whether you just want reassurance, have a specific need in mind, or are somewhere in between, we want to know so we can best help you. From there Dr. Wilkinson will do an intraoral exam(the first exam is always free). Appropriate x-rays will then be taken. A diagnosis and treatment plan will be made that will address any concern you have, and you may then schedule treatment if you would like.

We endeavor to leave a few spots open each day for more extensive emergencies/needs. Genuinely, we would love to treat everyone the same day, but that is not always possible or safe. Planning and lab work also need to be done ahead of time in some situations.

We schedule the seat appointment for the permanent crown out 4 weeks. This allows us to correct any issues that may come up.

It is very important for you to call us if your temporary comes off. We recommend denture adhesive instead of store-bought temporary cement if it is over the weekend or we can’t see you immediately for some reason. Lightly rinse the inside of the temporary, dry it, and place a small bit of denture adhesive in it and place it on the tooth. That said, if you are concerned at all or don’t want to do that, please, give us a call. Make sure not to chew anything sticky. We will get you in and either seat your permanent crown or recement your temporary. If the temporary is left out for extended periods of time, the permanent crown may not fit because the teeth will have moved.

A mild amount of discomfort is expected after a crown, which is usually covered by Advil or Tylenol. The tooth was irritated, as were the gums around the tooth. Sensitivity is usually worst between days 2 and 4. If your bite feels off, please give us a call. Sometimes the temporary is left a bit high because the bite changes once numbing wears off and needs to be adjusted.

Post-op instructions after preparation (temporary on tooth):

After the preparation of a crown, the tooth, and the tissue around the tooth and injection site/s might be mildly sore for 4 days, with most pain being reported between days 2 and 4. Most often this is mildly sharp to moderately dull pain that is usually easily manageable with Tylenol or Advil. You will be in a temporary. This temporary is much weaker than the permanent crown. It is not meant to be chewed with. It helps keep the other teeth in position and protects the remaining tooth underneath. The cement is also not as strong as permanent cement. If the temporary comes off, denture adhesive will work until we can get you in, though you should remove it before you go to bed in that situation. If it breaks, please give us a call so we can remake it for you. You may lightly brush the temporary, and we recommend that you don’t floss it, but if you get food caught, and have to, pull the floss out after passing it through the contact and towards the gum. In other words, don’t pop it back through the contact or you might pop the temporary off.

Post-op instructions after cementation of the permanent crown:

Pressure against the teeth on either side of the new crown isn’t necessarily uncommon but should resolve after 48 hours. No eating or drinking for 30 minutes after cementation, and no sticky foods for 24 hours. Sensitivity to hot and cold is not uncommon after a crown seat and may persist 7 to 10 days after cementation. If sensitivity feels wrong at any time though, we do recommend that you give us a call.

Needing a crown after a root canal depends highly on the location of the tooth in the mouth—teeth towards the back of the mouth like molars and premolars are needed more for chewing, and generally require crowns, where incisors or canines which aren’t needed for chewing don’t always require crowns.

One difference between a crown vs filling is that a crown is much more durable for teeth with a large biting surface. Repeated pressure from chewing or from habitual clenching can cause fillings on the biting surfaces of molars to chip or come loose. A crown, being a single unbroken surface from gumline to gumline, is designed to take much more force over a longer period of time.

Dental crowns play two important roles in your mouth. First and foremost, they completely restore the function of your tooth which means you can close your teeth and chew without pain or discomfort or without having to compensate by chewing on one side. Secondarily (but also important!) crowns are designed to blend in with your natural teeth. That means they are colored and contoured to match your aesthetic. In fact, sometimes people forget altogether which tooth is the crown.

A post isn’t quite a dental implant (which is surgically implanted in the jaw bone) but it is exactly what it sounds like: a medical-grade post that may be cemented into a prepared root-canal to reinforce the base and core of a dental crown. Dental posts are only used if there isn’t enough healthy tooth left over to reliably hold a crown.

In most cases, dental crowns can last up to 15 years. However, if they are properly maintained, they can last for 25-30 years.

A dental crown is maintained just like a natural tooth. Regular brushing and flossing keep your dental crown – and the supporting gum around it – healthy and clean. Regular cleanings and checkups at your dentist are essential to your oral health.