Dental Crowns
Restoration for damaged or worn teeth

You can browse a list of clinics that provide dental crowns here on RevaHealth.com. If you need any help deciding which clinic to choose, just ask us for help.

Crowns tend to be quite expensive and therefore individuals are increasingly looking to other destinations to cut down the cost.  In addition there have been several advances in the field with newer porcelain crowns offering a better cosmetic appearance and only requiring a single visit.

What are Dental Crowns?

A crown is a cap that typically completely covers a single tooth and adds strength, stability and durability to an otherwise weakened structure. It can be made out of gold or ceramic and is typically fitted by a dentist in one or two visits. Crowns tend to be expensive with US pricing ranging from $600 to $3,000 dollar and are therefore one of the more common treatment sought by dental tourists.

You might need a crown if:

• If a lot of your tooth has decayed and there isn't enough tooth structure to fill in the same way that small cavities are filled
• A large section of your tooth has fractured off
• You have a large cavity and are opting for the addition protection that a crown offers against fracture and decay
• You have implants and are opting for crowns to be fitted
• If you have had a root canal on one of your rear teeth then a crown is typically required to strengthen the tooth
• If you want a better smile but veneers/implants are not appropriate
• Grinding or acid erosion has significantly reduced the tooth

What is the procedure like?

The tooth in question needs to be prepared by stripping off the entire top covering (enamel) of the tooth where the crown is to be fitted. It should be noted that this process is not reversible.  From this point on, the procedure differs greatly according to the type of crown being fitted. In the instance of gold crowns, a mould is taken and sent to a laboratory so that the crown can be manufactured. This can take anywhere from days to weeks, so a second visit is required for the crown to be fitted. Your dentist should supply you with a temporary crown or ‘flipper’ for you to wear in the interim. Certain ceramic crowns can be made in the dentist’s surgery and fitted in a single visit.

What different types exist?

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Full gold crowns – Although called full gold these are normally an alloy of various metals. Check with your dentist that the ‘gold’ they are using contains at least 75% noble metal. Gold crowns are typically made by taking a wax impression and having the crown fabricated in a laboratory and then fitted in a latter visit.  As gold crowns require at least two visits to a dentist, many dental tourist opt for ceramic varieties, however it should be noted that many dentist still regard full gold crowns as being superior in the long terms.

Porcelain fused to Metal Crowns – In order to achieve a more natural look on visible teeth, porcelain can be fused to metal crowns.  This is a different process to full gold crowns as more of the original tooth needs to be removed in order to make space for the porcelain. Although gold can be used normally, a different metal alloy is used because of the intense heat of the fabrication process. The latest and most expensive material used is circoniumoxide.  

Porcelain Crowns - There are two main types of porcelain crown. The traditional variety is felspathic and is created in a lab making porcelain. The newer type is created by a single ingot and can be created by specialised equipment in the dentist’s surgery.  This makes porcelain crowns particularly attractive to the dental tourist as they can be completed in a single visit.

Procera (Alumina or zironia) – Procera AllCeram is a brand name for natural looking crown created by covering a alumina or zironia core with ceramic.  The crown is created by computer- aided manufacturing rather than the traditional casting process. Studies by Procera have shown a very high success rate over 5 and 10 years.

CERAC – Is the current leader in computer aided crown manufacture in the US. The crown is created out of ceramic and rather than being fabricated in a laboratory, it is build in specialized (and expensive) equipment in the Dentist’s surgery. This can result in crowns being fitted in a single visit.

What affects the price?

There are a huge number of factors that determine the price. It is important when you are comparing prices, you are comparing like with like.  Look for details like:

• The type of crown you are getting
• Is a pin required to anchor the crown?
• Is root canal work required?
• Additional work that may need to be performed

Price Comparison

Price lists should always be viewed with caution as many factors can increase or decrease the resulting price. The follow table gives some indicative costs for crowns across the world:

Dentists in Mexico
Save yourself up to 70% on cosmetic dentistry in Mexico

Mexican Dentistry

Dentists in Mexico can equal the best available across the world. The Asociación Dental Mexicana has over 50 years experience regulating its members and encourages continuing education and high ethical standards. Many Mexican dentists will also belong to the American Dental Association, benefiting from its training programs and keeping up to date with the latest in dental technologies.

Our three most popular dental clinics are:

Benefits of Travelling to Mexico

Perhaps the most obvious benefits of Mexico as a dental destination for Americans is its proximity and its low costs. A short car journey can put Califorians in the middle of one of the highest densities of dental clinics in the world.

Too much choice can be confusing, and with irregular federal oversight you need to know what to look for. Good dentists regularly attend courses to update their skills. Joining dental associations, whether Mexican or American is a good indication that a dentist is dedicated to their continuing professional development. Check the staff sections of clinics to see the academic work and practical training the dentists have completed.

Lower labour costs and cheaper office space allow Mexico's dentists to offer comparable treatments to their U.S neighbours at a very competitive cost. Our most popular destination in Mexico is currently Tijuana

Dentists in Mexico - Price Guide

The following price guide indicates estimated cost of Dentistry in Mexico. Please note that this is a guide only and you should always check with your dentist directly.

*Exchange rates from 08/2007

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Dentists in Mexico - Qualifications

Dental training and certification in Mexico is very similar to the United States. Study takes five years: four years of dental school followed by a one year internship and the passing of a professional exam.

Though there is no mandatory continuing education, many Mexican dentists avail of training courses run locally, in the U.S or Europe. There are 50 dental schools, regulated by the federal government.

There are 9 recognized dental specialties in Mexico including Endodontics, Periodontics and Orthodontics.

Dentists in Mexico - Additional Information

Organizations

All dentists must posses a certificate of graduation from a licenced educational institution.The title of dentist is confered at a federal level allowing free movement of dentists through the country.

The Asociación Dental Mexicana was established in 1942. The Consejo de Certificación de la Asociación Dental Mexicana registers Mexican dentists and the Asociación is more broadly responsible for the ethical and educational development of dentistry in Mexico. Certification with the ADM is not manditory.

Dental Ethics

Members of the ADM are bound by its code of ethics that stipulates the duties of dental surgeons. In common with the U.S and E.U these clarify the duty of a dentist to do no harm, look after the ongoing health of the patient, guard the confidentiality of client information and pass that information on to another dentist at the request of the patient.

Complaints

Ethical and procedural complaints can be passed to the ADM if the performing dentist is a member. Recourse through the courts is difficult and time consuming.

Continuing education

The ADM believes in the principle of continuous education for dentists. There is a process of recertification every 5 years which involves an examination of dental skills: all ADM members should have a copy of their certification valid for the current period.

Data Protection

There is data protection legislation in place in Mexico with specific categories for medical records. The ethical responsibilities of dental surgeons for the management of records include additional duties (see the dental ethics section above).

Resources

The Asociación Dental Mexicana
http://www.adm.org.mx
Ethical Code (Spanish)
etica.html