15 Things to Know About Getting an Affordable Dental Crown

You’re sitting on your couch, ready to start your favorite movie on Netflix, when you take your first bite of dinner and feel a stabbing pain in your tooth.  After looking in the mirror, you can see that the cavity you’ve neglected has gotten worse, much worse.  It doesn’t take a lot of research to learn that you probably need a dental crown.

There is nothing fun about getting a dental crown. First, there’s the physical pain leading up to treatment, and then there’s the sucker punch to your wallet after the procedure. Let’s face it, dental crowns in the U.S. are not cheap. Oh, and there’s also that fun bit in the middle with the drill.

But while the thought of getting a dental crown in the U.S. might make you cringe, the thought of not getting a crown is much worse, as your teeth will only require more procedures.

If you need a crown and are looking for a dentist, below are 15 things you should know before you make a decision

1.  A dental crown is a prosthetic device that’s cemented onto your tooth.

2.  Crowns are needed when your tooth is damaged due to decay or injury.

3.  Crowns can sometimes be placed in conjunction with a root canal or a dental bridge, depending on the level of damage done to the tooth.

4. Your dentist can use several types of crowns: porcelain, ceramic, resin, and zirconia.

5.  If you need a crown, sometimes, but not always, you may need two appointments: one appointment to make a mold of the crown and another to place the crown.

6.  Between these two visits, you will be given a temporary dental crown by your dentist.

7.  Your temporary crown is not impenetrable. You’ll need to treat it carefully and avoid sticky foods (like gum, taffy, etc.) or very hard.

8.  During your first visit, you’ll need an X-ray from your dentist to see if the tooth’s root is in good shape or if it requires a root canal. If you need a root canal, your dental costs will only go up.

9.  You will receive local anesthesia before the dentist drills down your tooth along the biting surface and sides to make room for the crown.

10. If you have significant decay, your dentist may need to “build up” the tooth before they can place the crown.

11. Once your crown is placed, it may take a few days or weeks before it matches your natural bite. However, it will eventually blend with your other teeth.

12. Your crown will need to be properly cared for in the same way you care for your other teeth.

13. Your dental crown should last between five to fifteen years, depending on how well you care for it.

14. Your crown may crack or come loose over time. If this happens, be sure to contact your dentist immediately to prevent the problem from getting worse.

15. Inexpensive dental crowns in the U.S. are hard to come by. Based on independent price studies, the average cost of a dental crown in the U.S. is around $1,500.

If you are looking for an affordable dental crown, you have another option. You can travel to the Mexico border to get an affordable dental crown. The practice of leaving the U.S. and traveling abroad for dental care is called “dental tourism.”

Americans have been traveling to Mexico for affordable dental crowns and other procedures for the last 20 years. In Mexico, not only can you get a dental crown (they’re about $425 there), but you can also get a mini getaway in the process.

Traveling to Mexico for a more affordable dental crown is safe and easy. As long as you work with a reputable dentist in Mexico, you will receive the same quality of care or better as you would with your U.S. dentist.

Your dentist in Mexico will also use all the same materials and similar anesthesia for your dental crown.

The reason for the huge cost savings which make your dental crown so much cheaper has nothing to do with quality and everything to do with structure. In Mexico, dental education is subsidized by the government, so they don’t have big student loans to pay when they graduate. Moreover, the cost of living is much lower in Mexico, which allows them to charge less for the same procedure as in the U.S.

You might be thinking that this sounds great but that the process of finding and booking a dentist in Mexico isn’t worth it. If you had to do this alone, you might be right. But, if you book your appointment through a reputable dental referral agency, they’ll take care of the work for you.

At Beyond Borders Dental, we’ll get a quote for your dental work, schedule you with a reputable and trusted dentist in Mexico, forward your dental records to the dental office on your behalf, and take care of all the details. If you need extensive dental treatment, we also offer financing options.

To find out more about how you can get affordable, high-quality dental care in Mexico, call us today at (505) 738-7770, or click this link to send us your inquiry, and we’ll get back to you.