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What Is a Dental Crown and Do You Really Need One?

What Is a Dental Crown and Do You Really Need One?

What is a Dental Crown?

A dental crown is a custom-made covering that fits over a prepared natural tooth or dental implant. It serves to protect and strengthen a tooth that has been weakened by decay, fracture, large fillings, or root canal treatment. Crowns are typically made from various materials, including porcelain, ceramic, metal alloys, or a combination of these materials. The choice of material depends on factors such as the location of the tooth, the patient’s preference, and the functional and aesthetic requirements.

Do I really need a crown?

Maybe! A crown is a great option for tooth support/strength but can often be too aggressive if the tooth is still in good condition. Unfortunately, it’s common to hear of dental practices that treat too aggressively by placing crowns on teeth that might not need them. Many corporate dental offices praise the dentists that complete the most crowns. It’s recommended to avoid payment models (fee-for-service) that incentivize volume or higher-dollar procedures such as crowns. A direct care membership model completely avoids these incentives and helps develop trust with your dental provider.

Reasons for Needing a Dental Crown

1. Protection: A crown provides a protective cover for a tooth that is weak or at risk of breaking.

2. Restoration: It restores a tooth that has been severely decayed, cracked, or worn down to its original shape and size.

3. Support. Crowns are used to support large fillings when there isn’t enough tooth structure remaining.

4. Cosmetic Enhancement: They can improve the appearance of misshapen or discolored teeth, enhancing the overall smile.

Types of Dental Crowns

1. Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM): These crowns are not done very often anymore because they can irritate the gums, and show dark lines around the base of the tooth

2. All-ceramic or all-porcelain: These crowns provide the best aesthetic results because they closely resemble natural teeth in color and translucency. They are ideal for front teeth and patients concerned about aesthetics. These are what is most commonly done these days. Options include: eMax (more esthetic) and zirconia (more durable).

3. Metal crowns (gold or other alloys: These crowns are known for their strength and durability, making them suitable for molars or teeth that undergo heavy chewing forces. These are not done as often anymore because of their high cost or non-esthetic appearance.

The Dental Crown Procedure

1. Initial Consultation: Your dentist will examine your tooth and discuss the need for a crown. X-rays may be taken to assess the extent of damage or decay.

2. Tooth Preparation: The tooth receiving the crown is prepared by removing a layer of enamel to create space for the crown. If the tooth is severely damaged, additional material may be added to build it up.

3. Impression: An impression or mold of the prepared tooth is taken. Modern dentistry uses digital scanning instead of molds. This mold or scan is sent to a dental laboratory where the crown is custom-made to fit your tooth precisely. Sometimes the crown can be developed in a in-house lab!

4. Temporary Crown: While waiting for the permanent crown to be fabricated (usually 1-2 weeks), a temporary crown is placed to protect the tooth. Sometimes the final crown can be fabricated same-day in the office and allows you to avoid a temporary crown.

5. Crown Placement: Once the permanent crown is ready, it is checked for fit, color, and bite. It is then cemented into place over the prepared tooth.

6. Post-Procedure Care: Your dentist will provide instructions on caring for your new crown, including proper oral hygiene practices and any precautions to take.

How much does a crown cost?

A dental crown cost can vary on a number of factors, such as the dental office, dental insurance, and the amount of damage to a tooth. The cost can range up to $2,000 per tooth in a traditional dental office. In a Rising Dental practice, members only have to pay the lab or material fee for crowns! Today, that material fee is $275. Members pay $0 for the crown build-up if needed.

Conclusion

Dental crowns play a vital role in restoring and preserving oral health. Whether you need a crown for functional reasons or cosmetic enhancement, understanding the process and types of crowns available can help you make informed decisions about your dental care. If you believe you may benefit from a dental crown, consult your dentist to discuss your options and determine the best course of treatment for your oral health needs. Remember, investing in your dental health today can lead to less.

The Best Method of Teeth Whitening

The Best Method of Teeth Whitening

The Best Way to Whiten Your Teeth

If you type ‘teeth whitening’ into a search bar, you’ll see a ton of options… too many, if you ask us. Between bleaching, take home kits, whitening strips worn at night, and all the way to removing stains with lasers, there’s no shortage of “methods” to brighten those pearly whites. 

So people claim. And while everyone promises a whiter smile, when you scroll down to the cost, what you see might blow your hair back.

That’s challenging because as far as looking your best goes, there’s every reason to whiten. Along with straightening, whitening your teeth is the surest, easiest way to get that bright attractive smile. While unfortunately, dental restorations like crowns and fillings can’t be whitened because they don’t bond with the whitening chemicals the same way enamel does, even yellow or stained teeth can become white with repeated treatment. 

But with so many options, what’s the best way to do it?  Is there a clear winner? Which method works best on stained or yellow teeth that haven’t been white in years? 

The answer, like many salient but little-known facts of oral health, will surprise you. 

When Best Practice means Best Method 

Most of these methods work in the short term… but they’re subpar at best. 

The truth is that teeth must be whitened again and again to maintain the best color, and the best way to do it isn’t whitening strips or laser treatment. Cheap, over the counter whitening strips are often expired, and may not even apply the hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide that acts as the whitening agent.  

While they might seem fancy or futuristic, whitening treatments involving light or lasers are an expensive gimmick. While they don’t do much to maintain whiteness, they sometimes dry out and damage the enamel.  

The best teeth whitening method is to use custom teeth whitening trays made by a dentist, to apply professional grade whitening gel at home. Whitening trays come with virtually no risk, and unlike some dental office treatments, they reduce pain and sensitivity while getting the job done. 

How Teeth Whitening Works

At Rising Dental Club, teeth whitening starts with a standard procedure. 

At the first visit, members get a 3D scan of their teeth that lets us print a custom, 3D model. Using the model, we fabricate a custom bleaching tray for both jaws and then provide fresh, professional grade gel for home whitening. 

At home, members place a tiny amount of whitening gel in the tray, and then wear it for 30-60 minutes every day for a week. 

When they visit for a cleaning or a checkup, we top off their whitening gel supply so they can continue whitening at home two to four times a year, and maintain the bright, stainless color they want over the long term.  

From our perspective, helping members keep their teeth an optimal white is no cosmetic detail. We find that having whitened, clean-looking teeth gives a huge motivational boost to anyone looking to take their oral health seriously with proactive care. 

If teeth look that good, then of course they’re worth maintaining day in, day out.

3D Printing Bleaching Trays with Sprintray

3d Printing Dental Models for Bleaching Trays

So it Works. But What’s the Cost? 

Great question. 

With Rising Dental Club, where members pay a flat monthly fee and avoid the hassles of dental insurance, teeth whitening is free. 

The custom 3D whitening trays are free. 

The professional grade whitening gel is free. 

Refills are free as long as they’re with us. Rising Dental Club members get free whitening Gel refills for life at their cleaning appointments.

Where fancy whitening treatments aren’t included on dental insurance plans, they add up quickly… and this can leave patients with the only option of flimsy, over the counter whitening strips. 

Getting to use the best teeth whitening method for free is another reason to say farewell to dental insurance, and go with the Direct Dental Care of Rising Dental Club. Our model focuses on prevention, builds strong relationships between dentists and patients, and provides everything patients need with fixed prices and a flat monthly fee. 

So if you pay us a visit down in our Gilbert, Arizona office, (we’re opening more branches across the state and across the country, by the way), make sure you ask about free teeth whitening for Rising Dental Club members. 

From Teeth Whitening to Overall Experience…

A better way  is rising. 

With Direct Dental Care that avoids the premiums, hidden costs, and cumbersome billing of traditional dental insurance, oral health includes feeling great about the way your teeth look. 

Give us a call and become a member today!

How Much Does Invisalign Cost?

How Much Does Invisalign Cost?

Great question. At Rising Dental Club, we set Invisalign cost at $3,000. No premiums, no hidden fees… and no surprise bills in the mail. 

A flat $3,000. 

This is less than what many dental offices will charge for braces. It’s also often less than what you’ll fork over with co-pays on a traditional insurance dental plan. 

If you’re looking for a flexible, non-visible, and custom solution that will correct an overbite or an underbite, give crowded teeth some breathing room, or just straighten out those pearly whites for a better smile, our flat-fee pricing makes the cost of Invisalign well worth it.  

Invisa-what? 

Invisalign’s popular, and it’s the premier company for plastic aligners. Over the last few decades, it’s straightened the teeth of over ten million adults and teenagers worldwide.  

If you haven’t heard about it, you should probably check it out. 

How Invisalign Works 

Invisalign treatment takes a digitally engineered approach to straightening teeth. With the precision of plastic molds called aligners that are custom made for each patient’s teeth and worn for around 20 hours a day, Invisalign works with more ease and comfort than traditional metal braces. 

As the name implies, they’re clear, custom-fitted and pretty much invisible. 

Aside from taking the aligners out for eating and drinking, teens and adults wear them as they go about their day… and with hardly anyone noticing. 

The Invisalign Process

It’s pretty cool. And it starts with taking a selfie of that smile. 

But not any selfie… first our 3D scanner digitally captures and creates a 3D model of your teeth. Next, we use powerful software to plan precision, clear-looking aligners that will straighten your teeth over the next few months to half a year. 

Over the course of your treatment, we’ll see how it’s going with regular check-ups. 

When it’s time, and as your teeth start to move and straighten, we’ll swap out one set of clear, transparent aligners for another, until your bite and your smile are transformed. 

Does Invisalign Beat Traditional Braces?

We think so. While we offer both, Invisalign brings cosmetic, practical, and comfort level benefits that are hard to ignore. 

Let’s count the ways: 

-Transparent/cosmetic

-Less discomfort

-Faster treatment times

-Easier to clean

-Less office visits

*And with a direct dental care option of transparent prices and a low monthly membership fee… Invisalign comes with options. 

Rising Dental Club’s Invisalign Options  

No set of teeth are completely alike. That’s why we offer Invisalign instead of braces… and we don’t charge more for Invisalign.

Where many dental offices and traditional insurance plans only offer Invisalign as a premium over braces, we think Invisalign cost should be affordable for everybody.

At Rising Dental Club, you can also get Invisalign treatment for the bottom teeth only, making your treatment even more invisible. 

Because the customizable treatment should come with customizable pricing… which you can’t get with dental insurance  

That’s right. With our low monthly membership fee, you can get the best teeth-straightening product and service for half the price.  

When It Comes to Your Teeth, Don’t DIY

There’s other clear aligner companies that take a DIY approach. But make no mistake—Invisalign remains the gold standard; the premier clear aligner company.  

That’s because DIY companies don’t have the software power and data history of Invisalign to guide the process. 

Another problem is that  DIY companies who promise straightened teeth can’t always deliver because they don’t have a dental provider actively guiding your treatment. In fact, most don’t even have a dental provider involved. 

This means that DIY companies can’t use vital, dentist-driven parts of the clear aligner process. With little accountability, no routine check-ups, and important pieces missing, the approach can lead to poor outcomes. 

No bueno for teeth that should be straight. 

Offering affordable Invisalign cost to the Gilbert, Arizona Community

In the greater Phoenix area, a better way is rising. 

With Direct Dental Care that blows way past the premiums, hidden costs, and cumbersome billing of traditional dental insurance, we’re all about getting patients the preventative treatment, and the dentist relationship they need for optimal oral health. 

Give us a call and become a member today!