The dental crown is a dental resource that consists of a coating designed to wrap damaged teeth and improve the alignment of those that are crooked.
They can be applied to people of all ages, but they play an especially important role during the first teething, to help the child improve the functions of chewing, swallowing and learning to speak.
They also fulfill the function of maintaining the spaces that the milk teeth leave, when they fall, so that the definitive teeth that are emerging occupy the places that correspond to them, without twisting or crowding together.
The use of the dental crown is particularly important when the primary teeth fall out prematurely, due to cavities, a very common condition during childhood, due to the prolonged and frequent exposure of children to sugary drinks and sweets.
To avoid setbacks caused by premature tooth loss and the consequences in permanent dentition, the use of dental crowns is recommended when:
- Caries has progressed to deep layers and cannot be treated with a plaster.
- A tooth results in a fracture caused by trauma.
- To prevent children from acquiring poor oral hygiene habits and becoming familiar with the use of brushing, flossing and rinsing.
The industry provides us with various materials and various types of dental crowns designed to improve the oral health of children and prevent subsequent inconveniences during the period of permanent dentition:
- Steel crowns: These are pre-fabricated crowns that can be applied to baby teeth in one appointment. When the child changes teeth, the crowns fall with them.
- Chromium steel and porcelain crowns: They can take on the color of natural teeth. They are prefabricated and applied in a single appointment, but they have the disadvantage that they can be broken.
- Resin crowns: They are placed using celluloid sleeves that are filled with resin. They are less expensive, but they wear out with use and are prone to fracture.
- Zirconia crowns: Prefabricated to the size and color of baby teeth. They are more expensive than those made of other materials, but have the advantage that they are more aesthetic and less prone to wear and tear.
Dental crown costs
The choice of materials for dental crowns is determined by two main factors: the needs of each patient and, in the particular case of children, the financial availability of their parents.
In Costa Rica, the minimum prices for dental services are determined by a rate established by the College of Dental Surgeons.
It should be borne in mind that dentists are empowered to adjust the rates of their services according to the costs of their clinics and the degree of specialty of the professionals who provide the service.
Keep in mind that, although these rates exist, in Costa Rica Cero Caries we have a project of an investment plan and collaborative payments that includes a special category of help to low-income children, with special prices, for various types of dental treatments . In addition, we are regulated by the College for this initiative.
Contact us, if you are looking for more information about dental crowns for children we can advise you.
