There are many ways you can change and/or improve the appearance and functionality of your smile. If you're not quite happy with your smile because of poor genetics, trauma, or bad oral hygiene, you may consider dental crowns or dental bonding. Both have their own pros and cons to consider, so check out these questions to help you decide.
Dental crowns and dental bonding fix many cosmetic issues. They hide stains that are resistant to teeth-whitening (such as discoloration from damaged dentin), and they can make your teeth look even in length, less crowded/gapped, etc. If you choose dental bonding, composite crowns, or porcelain crowns, the dentist can even match the color to the shade of white you want.
Dental crowns also come in metal, including gold. Gold crowns offer a different aesthetic appearance, and many people choose them for this unique style. Gold crowns have many benefits over other types of crowns and dental bonding. Their biggest benefit is their ability to seal the tooth well and resist cracking.
Dental bonding and crowns can both fix trauma, but depending on the severity, dental crowns may be best. If you have a few chips or cracks on your teeth, dental bonding is great at sealing the damage to prevent further decay or infection. This material is even used to create tooth-colored fillings on front and back teeth.
If your teeth are severely damaged, however, a dental crown can help to re-strengthen the tooth. All dental crowns help strengthen teeth, but because gold is more durable, it is less likely to experience damage, which may allow bacteria to enter. With dental crowns, your dentist may even be able to rebuild and secure a broken tooth.
Your budget may determine if dental bonding or crowns are better because dental bonding is more affordable. On average, you may spend about $300 to $600 per tooth for cosmetic dental bonding. Unfortunately, dental bonding for cosmetic reasons is usually not covered by insurance because it isn't considered medically necessary.
Dental crowns are more expensive, but insurance may cover some of the cost if you need them to repair or strengthen teeth. For porcelain crowns, you may pay $800 to $3,000, and noble metal crowns, such as metal, cost about $600 to $2,500. Regardless of which option you choose, you'll likely have to have your crowns replace and/or the bonding material fixed at some point.
Finally, consider when you want your results. Dental crowns take longer because they are made in a lab. Your dentist needs to take molds so the lab can craft a crown that will fit properly and look great. Your teeth need to be filed down before the mold can be made. Therefore, while the permanent crowns are made, you'll need to wear temporaries to protect your tooth.
Dental bonding, however, can be done in a single visit because the dentist applies the bonding material directly to your teeth and then shapes them by hand. In many cases, no enamel even needs to be removed. Once the bonding material is cured, you can leave the office with your new smile.
Whether you want perfectly straight white teeth or gold crowns, we at Gold Teeth Baton Rouge can help. You'll get the attractive smile you want, and your teeth get better protected from decay and infections. For more information about crowns, bonding or other procedures to enhance your smile, contact us today, so we can get your first appointment scheduled.
